104 Indians Deported from US Arrive in Amritsar, Families Struggle with Uncertain Future

A US military aircraft carrying 104 deported Indian nationals landed at Shri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport in Amritsar, leaving families distraught over an uncertain future. Among the deported individuals, 30 were from Punjab, 33 from Haryana, and 33 from Gujarat, while two hailed from Uttar Pradesh and Chandigarh, and three from Maharashtra. Several deportees included families with children aged between 8 and 10 years.

According to unnamed officials, those from Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh will be transported home by road, whereas individuals from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh may be flown back to their respective states. A senior Punjab police officer stated that the possibility of criminals being on the flight was low, as the Indian government had reviewed the list of deportees shared by the US prior to their return.

Families Express Financial and Emotional Turmoil

Families of the deportees, particularly from Punjab, revealed they had invested between ₹30 lakh to ₹50 lakh to send their loved ones to the US, often through illegal means. Many of these individuals had not yet applied for asylum before being deported.

Ajaydeep Singh’s grandfather, who was against his decision to go abroad, expressed confusion about why young people are taking such risks. “My grandson left for the US just 15 days ago. I don’t know how much money was spent on sending him,” he said.

Another family from Rajatal village in Amritsar shared a similar plight. “He worked as a bus driver here and has two children. He paid ₹30 lakh to reach the US just a month ago,” a relative said. The family had lost contact with him for 15 days before receiving a call from the police about his return.

Debt-Ridden Families Await Their Loved Ones

In Hoshiarpur’s Darapur village, Sukhpal’s family is facing financial distress. A 35-year-old chef, Sukhpal initially traveled to Italy on a one-year work permit in October 2024. However, his family remains unaware of how he ended up in the United States.

Prem Saini, Sukhpal’s father and a retired government school teacher, revealed that all visa arrangements were made by relatives in Italy. “He last spoke to us from Italy about 20-22 days ago. He never mentioned going to the US. Today, we found out through the news that he has been deported,” he said. Sukhpal’s wife, parents, and two children are anxiously awaiting his return to uncover the truth behind his journey.

Similarly, Gurpreet Singh’s family from Behbal Bahadue, Kapurthala, mortgaged their home and took out heavy loans, spending ₹45 lakh to send him to the US. “Now we have learned from media reports that he has been deported,” a family member said.

In Fatehgarh Sahib, Jaswinder Singh’s family took loans amounting to ₹50 lakh to send him abroad just before last Dussehra. “We believed he would earn and support the family,” they stated.

Pardeep Singh’s family in Jarout village, Mohali, is now seeking government assistance. They sold land and borrowed ₹20-25 lakh to finance his trip to the US, but after his deportation, they are urging the Mann government to either provide financial relief or offer Pardeep a government job.

Punjab Government Pledges Support

Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal assured that the state government would support the deported individuals. “We stand by our people. I will discuss this issue with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in the Cabinet meeting on February 10. We will request banks to waive interest on loans taken for migration,” Dhaliwal stated.

Recognizing the financial burden on families, Dhaliwal promised discussions with banks to pause loan interest, allowing returnees time to find employment. “As a farmer myself, I understand the struggle of repaying loans without income,” he added.

US Intensifies Crackdown on Illegal Immigration

The deportation comes amid a heightened crackdown on illegal immigration in the US. Since Donald Trump assumed office last month, US law enforcement agencies have ramped up efforts against undocumented migrants. Many Indians who entered the US through unauthorized “donkey routes” after spending large sums of money are now facing deportation, raising concerns for families back home.

As deported individuals reunite with their families, the larger issue of illegal immigration and financial exploitation continues to pose challenges for many aspiring migrants in India.