A U.S. military aircraft carrying 104 Indian nationals, identified as illegal immigrants, landed in Amritsar, Punjab today, marking the first group deported under the administration of President Donald Trump. Among the deportees, 30 are from Punjab, 33 each from Haryana and Gujarat, three from Maharashtra, three from Uttar Pradesh, and two from Chandigarh, according to sources cited by PTI in Amritsar. The group includes 19 women and 13 minors. However, there has been no official confirmation regarding the exact number of deportees, as earlier reports suggested the aircraft, a C-17 Globemaster, was transporting 205 individuals.

The U.S. Air Force plane landed at Amritsar International Airport at 1:55 PM local time, after departing from an airbase near Texas with the deported individuals. Upon arrival, Indian security agencies, including the Punjab Police, began questioning the deportees inside the airport terminal to check for any criminal backgrounds. Tight security measures were in place, with heavy barricading and a significant police presence outside the airport.

Following verification and background checks, the deportees are expected to be released and allowed to return to their homes. State governments have reportedly made arrangements to transport the individuals to their respective hometowns.

Since Donald Trump took office last month, U.S. law enforcement has intensified its crackdown on illegal immigration. Many of the deported individuals from Punjab had entered the U.S. using “donkey routes” or other illegal methods, often spending large sums of money. Punjab Non-Resident Indian Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal noted that several Indians originally entered the U.S. on work permits that later expired, leading to their undocumented status.