US military plane lands in India carrying illegal migrants
Share and Follow

A US military plane carrying illegal Indian immigrants landed in India’s northern city of Amritsar on Wednesday, a Reuters witness said, deporting an unspecified number of people as part of President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda.

Some local media reported that the flight was bringing 205 people back, while others put the number at 104, and that they were mainly from the northern state of Punjab, where Amritsar is located, and the western state of Gujarat.

The Trump administration has increasingly turned to the military to help carry out its immigration agenda, using military aircraft to deport migrants and opening military bases to house them.

Although illegal Indian immigrants have been deported home by previous US administrations, it is the first time Washington has used a military aircraft for the purpose.

It is also the farthest destination so far for such flights using a military aircraft.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that the C-17 aircraft with migrants on board had departed for India but would not arrive for at least 24 hours.

The flight did not show up on public flight trackers but local news TV channels showed the aircraft taxiing after it landed in Amritsar.

Migration has been among the key issues discussed by India and the US since Trump took charge last month, and is also expected to come up during Trump’s meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, likely to take place in Washington next week.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also ’emphasized’ the Trump administration’s desire to work with India to address “concerns related to irregular migration” when he met Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar last month.

New Delhi has since said it will take back such illegal immigrants after verifying their details.

The US is India’s largest trading partner and the two countries are forging deeper strategic ties as they look to counter China.

India is also keen to work with the US to make it easier for its citizens to get skilled workers visas.

The Pentagon has said it plans to deport more than 5,000 migrants held by US authorities, and Reuters reported last week that a flight to Guatemala used for the purpose likely cost at least $4,675 per migrant.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Storm Melissa Poses Significant Threat to US East Coast: Cities on High Alert

Meteorologists are advising residents along the U.S. East Coast to brace for…

19-Year-Old Charged with Murder Following Stabbing Incident at Oswego, IL Chick-fil-A on Route 34

An individual suspected of a fatal stabbing incident at a Chick-Fil-A in…

Analyzing the Dodgers vs. Blue Jays World Series: Which Team Holds the Advantage?

One team is making its first World Series appearance since 1993, while…

Must-Watch or Miss? Your Ultimate Guide to the Latest Streaming Releases

Six years have passed since Leslie Jones exited the cast of Saturday…

Watch: NYPD Officers Heroically Save Missing Dog Moose from Manhattan Subway Tracks

After a thrilling rescue operation by New York Police Department officers, a…

Family Challenges Drowning Verdict as Houston Bayou Death Sparks Growing Mystery

The perplexing death of Kenneth Cutting Jr. in a Houston bayou demands…

Federal Shutdown Forces Pause on New Mexico Death Penalty Trial

A New Mexico judge has temporarily suspended a federal death penalty case…

Ex-Microsoft Executive Under Scrutiny for Alleged Ties to Jeffrey Epstein: Birthday Letter Discovered

Former Microsoft executive Nathan Myhrvold has been named as one of the…