Amritsar: As many as 104 Indian immigrants who were deported from the US, landed at the Shri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport here on Wednesday at 1.55. p.m.
All were brought there in a US Army chartered AirCraft.
Photo : Prabhjot Singh Gill
However, 30 of the deportees were from Punjab, 33 each from Haryana and Gujarat, three each from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, and two from Chandigarh.
Comprehensive arrangements were made by the Authorities to send them to their respective residence in Punjab and neighboring state of Haryana.
All the passengers were being questioned inside the Airpot terminal building by the different Government agencies including Punjab police and various State and Centre intelligence agencies in order to check their past criminal record in any of the police stations in India.
None of the family members from any of the states were seen at Airport to receive them.
As per sources from Airport out of 104 passengers who were deported from the US there were13 teenagers, 79 males and 25 females.
Meanwhile, Punjab Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal has termed the issue of deporting Indians from America as very serious. As the Minister responsible for the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Dhaliwal emphasized that the Central Government should take this matter seriously.
Dhaliwal expressed his disappointment with the US government’s decision, stating that many Indians had entered the country on work permits, which later expired, making them illegal. He argued that these individuals, who have contributed to the US economy, should have been granted permanent residency instead of being deported.
To address this issue, Dhaliwal plans to meet with the External Affairs Minister of India next week to discuss the concerns and interests of Punjabis living in the US.
Dhaliwal also appealed to Punjabis not to travel abroad through illegal means, emphasizing the importance of acquiring skills and education to access opportunities worldwide. He encouraged individuals to research legal pathways, required education, and language skills before traveling abroad.
As the Minister responsible for NRI Affairs, Dhaliwal’s concerns highlight the need for a comprehensive approach to address the challenges faced by Indians living abroad.
