Of the 104 people deported from the US on a military plane that landed in Amritsar earlier today, 33 were Gujarati illegal immigrants. Their families expressed shock upon learning about their undocumented status in America, claiming they were unaware of their relatives’ illegal stay before their arrest and deportation amid US President Donald Trump’s crackdown on undocumented migrants.
Nikita Patel, an illegal immigrant who was deported from the US, had told her family that she went on a tour to Europe but did not tell them about her stay in the US, her father Kanubhai Patel told India Today TV in Mehsana.
“We are in shock about my daughter being sent back from America. We hope that she returns safely. She only spoke about staying in Europe and there was no talk of going to the US. We got information through the media that 33 people from Gujarat are being sent back,” he said.
Kanubhai said his daughter had gone to Europe on a visa with her two friends about a month back. He added that he last spoke to her on January 15. “After studying MSc, there was no job here but we did not know what she was going to do next,” he said.
Calling Trump’s decision to deport illegal immigrants wrong, he said that many Gujarati and Punjabi people live in the US and they should not be sent back. “Many people go there by spending money. Their families will suffer due to this (illegal immigration crackdown),” he said.
Another illegal immigrant, Ketul Patel, had gone to the US a year ago after selling his flat in Surat. Prafulbhai Patel, who bought the flat through an agent, said he was saddened about Ketul’s illegal stay in the US.
“He (Ketul) shouldn’t have done this. If he had to go to America, he should have stayed there legally. The family is very good in nature,” he said.
Three members of the Gohil family belonging to Gandhinagar also returned from the US. They include Kiransingh Gohil, his wife Mittalben and son Heyansh. All of them had gone to the US a month ago.
Kiransingh’s mother became emotional on hearing about the news of her son and his family being deported from the US, and said she had no idea how they went there.
She said she had not spoken to them for the past 15 days and was worried about their safety. “The villagers also don’t know how they went to the US. It would be good if they come back soon,” she said.
The woman said there was family land and her son had an odd job.
33 GUJARATIS MAY ARRIVE IN AHMEDABAD TOMORROW
Of the 33 people from Gujarat, 12 people are from Mehsana and Gandhinagar each. Apart from this, four people from Surat, two from Ahmedabad and one each from Kheda, Vadodara and Patan districts.
The Gujarat government is keeping an eye on the 33 people and all are expected to arrive in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
After reaching Amritsar, a complete investigation will be done by the immigration department, following which the 33 people will be sent to Gujarat. If any of these illegal immigrants have criminal records, legal action would be taken against them, government sources said.
ILLEGAL INDIAN IMMIGRANTS LAND IN INDIA
The C-17 US military aircraft, which took off from San Antonio, Texas, landed at the Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar at 1.59 pm. Police and civil administration officials were present to receive the 104 individuals comprising 79 men and 25 women.
Of the 104 illegal immigrants, 33 each are from Haryana and Gujarat; 30 from Punjab; three each from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh; and two from Chandigarh.
Earlier reports said there were some 200 Indians on board the military aircraft, but it was confirmed later that there were only 104.
Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that the 104 Indians who have landed are doing well. “They had food upon landing. They are safe and sound,” he said.