'Donkey routes' lead to deportation, Indians mostly Punjabis sent back from US

A US deportation flight carrying Indian immigrants who had sought the American dream is scheduled to arrive in India on Wednesday afternoon.

The US military aircraft, carrying around 205 illegal immigrants, mostly from Punjab, who entered the US illegally, departed from San Antonio, Texas, on a C-17 plane and is expected to land in Punjab's Amritsar.

This is the first round of deportations of illegal immigrants that coincides with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington next week. Among those facing deportation are individuals who entered the US through "donkey routes" or other illegal means, spending lakhs of rupees.

Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal expressed disappointment over the US government's decision to deport Indians, stating that these individuals, who contributed to the country's economy, should have been granted permanent residency instead of being deported. Dhaliwal clarified that these are Indians who had entered the US on work permits that later expired, making them illegal immigrants. Over 200 illegal Indian immigrants are expected to land at the Shri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport in Amritsar on Wednesday afternoon.

According to PTI, the US military plane C-17 is carrying 205 illegal immigrants hailing from Punjab and neighboring states. Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav stated on Tuesday that the state government would receive the immigrants and set up counters at the airport. Dhaliwal said he plans to meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar next week to discuss the concerns and interests of Punjabis living in the US and appealed to Punjabis not to travel abroad through illegal means.

Donald Trump launched a crackdown against illegal immigrants after assuming office as the US President in January.