US military C-17 aircraft used to deport 205 Indian migrants under Trump’s immigration crackdown; destination unclear

A United States military C-17 aircraft has departed with Indian migrants onboard on February 3, Reuters reported citing a US official.

There are 205 Indian migrants onboard, according to a Business Standard report. It added that as many as 18,000 illegal Indian immigrants have been identified for deportation by the Trump administration.

This marks a significant step in the Donald Trump administration's immigration efforts and is part of a broader strategy involving military support for immigration enforcement and deportation, it added.

Responding to media reports, a US embassy spokesperson told ANI that they can't share details, but reiterated that the US is “vigorously enforcing its border” and “removing illegal immigrants” to send a “clear message”.

Speaking to ANI, the spokesperson said, “I have received a number of inquiries on reporting of a deportation flight to India. I can’t share any details on those inquiries, but I can share, on the record, that the United States is vigorously enforcing its border, tightening immigration laws, and removing illegal migrants. These actions send a clear message: illegal migration is not worth the risk.” (sic)

Indian Migrants Deported on C-17 Military Aircraft

India is the farthest destination the US military is transporting migrants, as per the report. The report did not mention the Indian destination to which they were being transported or how many were onboard.

It added that Trump has increasingly sought military assistance to carry out his immigration agenda.

Moves in this direction include sending additional personnel to the US-Mexico border and using military aircraft for deportation. He is also using military bases to house arrested migrants, as per the report.

The official, who was not named, told Reuters that the US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft had departed for India with migrants aboard on January 3, but would not arrive for at least 24 hours. There are no reports yet of the flight having landed in India.

India to Take Back ‘Illegal Immigrants’ If Nationality Confirmed

Earlier in January, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India would take illegal migrants back if their nationality could be verified. The Indian government has repeatedly indicated its willingness to work with the new US government and avoid a trade war.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal insisted during a briefing on January 24 that New Delhi remained vehemently against illegal immigration — especially “because it is linked to several forms of organised crime”.

“For Indians not just in the United States, but anywhere in the world, if they are Indian nationals and they are overstaying, or they are in a particular country without proper documentation, we will take them back provided documents are shared with us so that we can verify their nationality and that they are indeed Indians,” he assured.

Pentagon Deports Over 5,000 Immigrants

The Pentagon has provided flights to deport more than 5,000 immigrants held by US authorities in El Paso (Texas), and San Diego (California). So far, migrants from Guatemala, Peru and Honduras haven been transported in military aircraft.

Military flights are a costly way to transport migrants. Reuters reported that a military deportation flight to Guatemala last week likely cost at least $4,675 per migrant.

(With inputs from Reuters)