A second U.S. military aircraft carrying 119 deported Indian citizens landed in Amritsar on Saturday night, marking another wave of removals under the Biden administration’s intensified immigration crackdown. The deportees included 67 individuals from Punjab, 33 from Haryana, eight from Gujarat, three from Uttar Pradesh, two each from Rajasthan, Goa, and Maharashtra, and one each from Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. This follows the arrival of a similar flight ten days earlier, which brought back 104 deported Indian nationals. Reports have raised concerns about the treatment of these individuals, with allegations that many were handcuffed and restrained during transit.

Congress leader P. Chidambaram criticized the handling of the deportations, calling it a test for Indian diplomacy. In a post on X, he questioned whether the latest group of deportees would also be bound with restraints, as had been reported with the first flight. Opposition parties have echoed concerns over the alleged mistreatment of Indian citizens by U.S. authorities, demanding a stronger response from the Indian government. The growing number of deportations has fueled political debate, with critics arguing that India should assert its stance more firmly in diplomatic negotiations regarding its diaspora.

A third flight carrying deportees is expected to land on Sunday, further intensifying discussions on immigration policies and the treatment of undocumented Indian migrants abroad. With an increasing number of Indian nationals facing removal from the U.S., the issue is likely to remain a focal point in India-U.S. relations. While the Indian government has not yet made an official statement on the conditions of the deportees, pressure is mounting from political leaders and advocacy groups demanding accountability and assurances of humane treatment for returning citizens.