An American military aircraft touched down at Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport late Saturday night, carrying 116 deported Indian immigrants — 99 of them from this part of the region, including highest 65 from Punjab, 33 from Haryana, and one from Himachal Pradesh — who were shackled and handcuffed throughout the grueling 66-hour journey. This was the second such flight within a fortnight, as a part of the US government’s intensified crackdown on illegal immigration. But what stunned those waiting at the airport was not just the sheer number of deportees — it was the sight of Sikh men arriving bareheaded, their turbans removed before they were forced onto the plane. The distressing images evoked sharp condemnation from Sikh bodies and political leaders, raising concerns over the treatment of Indian detainees in US custody.

A third deportation flight, carrying another 112 Indians, including 30 from Punjab and 45 from Haryana, landed at 10.05 on Sunday night. These mass deportations have sparked an outcry over the inhumane treatment meted out to the deportees, many of whom spent months in US detention centers before being sent back like criminals — chained, humiliated, and abandoned to face an uncertain future.

The flight, a C-17 Globemaster III, touched down after 11:30 pm at Amritsar, marking the latest round of removals under the US government’s intensified crackdown on illegal immigration. A third deportation flight landed late Sunday night, around 10:05 pm. This followed the February 5 deportation of 104 illegal Indian immigrants, many of whom were also shackled and handcuffed throughout the journey — an inhumane practice that has sparked outrage in Punjab and beyond. 

The Saturday night deportees recounted horrifying experiences, describing how they were chained at the wrists and ankles, forced to endure a grueling 66-hour journey with minimal food and hygiene facilities. Adding to the humiliation, several Sikh deportees revealed that their turbans had been removed before boarding the flight, leaving them bareheaded upon arrival. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) rushed to arrange siropas (robes of honour) at the last moment, but many deportees found them inadequate for covering their heads properly.

Daljit Singh, a deportee from Kurala Kalan village in Hoshiarpur, confirmed that every male passenger was handcuffed and shackled. “Our hands were tied, and our feet were chained,” he said, echoing the harrowing accounts of those deported in the previous batch. “It felt like we were criminals.” 

Another deportee, Mandeep Singh from Surkha village in Kapurthala, described the conditions as “hellish”. He recounted, “For 66 hours, we were chained. They told us it was for security reasons, but we were treated worse than criminals. We were given very little food, and we hadn’t been allowed to bathe or brush our teeth for over 15 days before being deported here,” he said. 

For many, the humiliation extended beyond the physical restraints. “I was not wearing my turban when I landed,” said Yashpal Singh from Patti, who spent Rs 44 lakh to take the ‘donkey route’ to the US. “They took it away before the flight. The SGPC gave us siropas, but those are not meant to be tied as turbans. I had to borrow a cap to cover my head,” he said.

The sight of Sikh men arriving without their turbans angered Sikh organizations and local politicians. “It is deeply shameful that despite the outrage after the February 5 deportations, nothing has changed,” said Punjab Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, who was at the airport to receive the deportees. “These are our youth, our people, and they are being sent back in chains. The third flight will likely be the same — youth shackled and without turbans,” he said, adding that we had earlier raised this issue with higher authorities, and would do that again.

The Deportees

Among the 116 deportees, the majority — 65 — were from Punjab. Haryana accounted for 33, Gujarat for eight, while smaller numbers came from Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. Most of the deportees were between 18 and 30 years old, desperate young men who had risked everything to reach the US. 

Many had taken the perilous ‘donkey route’ — a dangerous network of smugglers and traffickers who guide immigrants through multiple countries to enter the US illegally. Families of the deportees reported paying exorbitant sums — anywhere between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 50 lakh — to unscrupulous travel agents, only to have their dreams shattered in shackles. 

The deportation flights are part of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdown on individuals who entered illegally or overstayed visas. Many of the deportees were caught at the US-Mexico border and held in detention centers for months before being sent back. 

Punjab Ministers Meet Deportees

Punjab Cabinet Ministers — Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and Harbhajan Singh ETO — arrived at Amritsar airport late Saturday night to meet the deportees. The State Government had arranged for their transport back home, unlike Haryana, which sent prison buses for its deported citizens. 

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who had earlier visited the airport but left before the flight arrived, has accused the Centre of conspiring to malign Punjab’s image. “I have raised this issue with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs, but they have not given me a satisfactory answer,” he had said. “Illegal immigration is a national issue, yet Punjab is being singled out. Why were flights not sent to Gujarat or Haryana, where many deportees belong?” he asked.

Mann also pointed out the contradiction in the Centre’s policies. “They say Amritsar is too close to the border to allow international flights, yet they allow US military aircraft to land here. Why the double standards?” he asked. 

Emotional Scenes at the Airport

Families of the deportees waited anxiously for hours outside the airport. Unlike the first batch, where only a few relatives turned up, this time, a large number of parents and siblings had gathered. Some broke down upon seeing their sons return in police custody, their dreams shattered.

“There was no system to inform us when they would be released,” said one father. “We spent 12 hours going back and forth between the arrival and cargo gates.”

The SGPC, which had set up a temporary camp at the airport, provided food and tea to the waiting relatives through the night. Meanwhile, deportees from other states faced logistical challenges. Officials said that those from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Goa would be flown out in the morning, while others would be transported by road.

Third Batch Arriving Tonight

The deportation nightmare is far from over. A third batch of 112 Indians, including 30 from Punjab, landed at Amritsar airport late Sunday night.

Despite the outrage, the US continues to deport illegal immigrants in military planes, a practice criticized by human rights groups. Opposition leaders have also slammed the Centre for not intervening. “If the government can send special planes for stranded Indians in Ukraine or Israel, why not for these youth?” asked a senior leader from the Congress party. 

For the deported youth, the future remains uncertain. Many have returned to massive debts, with no job prospects in sight. “I have nothing left here,” said one deportee, adding, “I spent my family’s life savings to go to the US. Now, I am back to zero.”

PYC Stage Protest Against Inhumane Treatment of Deportees

Punjab Youth Congress (PYC) on Sunday staged a massive protest at Hall Gate, Amritsar, condemning the inhuman treatment of Punjabi youth deported from the United States. Led by PYC president Mohit Mohindra, the demonstrators accused the Indian and Punjab Governments of failing to protect their citizens' dignity. 

Mohindra lashed out at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, questioning why he did not raise the issue of shackled and handcuffed deportees with former US President Donald Trump during his visit. “Our youth were treated like criminals, yet Modi remained silent. What is the point of his diplomacy if he cannot safeguard the honor of his people?” Mohindra asked. 

Criticizing Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, he called the continuous deportations a diplomatic failure, blaming the state’s lax approach toward illegal travel agents. “Over 800 illegal agents are operating without regulation, and their fraudulent businesses continue unchecked,” he said. 

Mohindra demanded immediate rehabilitation for deported youth, emphasizing their economic contribution to the US and the dire lack of opportunities in India. “The Punjab government has a duty to resettle them and provide a future they were denied abroad,” he added.

On Landing, Two US-Deported Youths - Wanted for Murder - Arrested

Two youths from Rajpura in Patiala, who were among the 116 Indians deported from the United States on Saturday night, were arrested by the Punjab Police upon arrival at Amritsar Airport late Saturday night. The accused — Sandeep Singh alias Sunny and Pradeep Singh — were wanted in connection with a 2023 murder case, said Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nanak Singh.

A special police team from Rajpura, led by SHO Rajpura, was stationed at the airport to arrest Sunny and Pradeep, who had fled to the US via the “dunki” route — an illegal migration method. Their families revealed that they spent Rs 1.2 crore to reach the US. 

According to police records, Sandeep Singh and four others were originally booked for murder in June 2023. During the investigation, Pradeep’s name was added to the FIR. To evade arrest, both escaped to the US, but their attempt to seek refuge ended in deportation. 

Punjab Minister Slams Haryana Govt for Sending Police Buses for Deportees

Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Saturday lashed out at the Haryana Government for sending police buses to transport its deported residents from Amritsar airport, calling it an act of further humiliation.

“These youths were already subjected to inhumane treatment by the US administration, shackled and chained like criminals. Now, instead of being welcomed with dignity, Haryana has forced them into police buses, further adding to their trauma,” Dhaliwal said. 

He criticized Haryana’s Transport Minister Anil Vij, questioning why no proper arrangements were made. “They have installed thick nets on the buses as if these youths are prisoners,” he added. 

Dhaliwal contrasted Haryana’s response with Punjab’s, emphasizing that the Punjab Government provided comfortable vehicles for its deportees. “We must treat them with respect. Their dreams are shattered, but they are not criminals,” he asserted.

BOX------------------III

US Deportees from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Till Now