Deported Indian migrants return on U.S. military plane, sparking backlash
Kumar Shivam | Feb 08, 2025, 00:36 IST
( Image credit : TOIGLOBAL )
Social media erupted as over 100 deported Indian migrants arrived in Amritsar on a U.S. military aircraft, highlighting Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration. The deportees, who took the perilous “Donkey” route, recounted their shattered dreams. The costly military deportation—exceeding $1 million—sent a strong political message but raised concerns over its financial and humanitarian implications.
Social media exploded with outrage after reports surfaced of Indian migrants being deported from the United States and arriving at Amritsar Airport on Wednesday.
More than 100 Indian nationals, who had entered the U.S. illegally, were repatriated on a U.S. military transport aircraft. This move aligns with former President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies aimed at cracking down on unauthorized migration.
Back home, the deportees shared harrowing accounts of their journey through the infamous "Donkey" route—an illegal migration pathway into the U.S. Many described how their pursuit of the American Dream ended in despair as they were detained, handcuffed, and placed on a return flight, crushing their hopes for a new life.
The deportation flight was anything but ordinary. A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III, a massive military transport plane, landed in Amritsar with 104 deportees—an unusually expensive method of repatriation.
Unlike the chartered civilian flights typically used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), this military operation came with an exorbitant price tag. According to AFP, the Trump administration’s decision to use military aircraft reinforced its aggressive stance on illegal immigration. However, the financial burden was enormous—deporting individuals via a military plane is estimated to cost over $1 million, nearly three times the cost of a civilian charter flight.
Documents from the U.S. Air Mobility Command indicate that operating a C-17 Globemaster III costs $28,562 per flight hour, compared to just $8,577 for an ICE charter. Military deportation flights also follow longer, more complex routes due to security protocols and diplomatic restrictions, requiring refueling at U.S. military bases rather than commercial airports.
After more than 43 hours in the air, the flight finally landed in Amritsar, making it one of the most expensive deportations in U.S. history. The total cost, including the return flight to the U.S., exceeded $1 million—translating to over $10,000 per deportee. By contrast, a one-way commercial ticket from San Francisco to New Delhi costs about $500 in economy class or $4,000 in business class.
Despite the staggering cost, the Trump administration appeared determined to use military deportation flights as a symbolic and forceful message against illegal immigration. Whether this strategy proves effective remains to be seen, but for the deportees, it marked a devastating end to their aspirations for a better future.
More than 100 Indian nationals, who had entered the U.S. illegally, were repatriated on a U.S. military transport aircraft. This move aligns with former President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies aimed at cracking down on unauthorized migration.
The Perilous ‘Donkey’ Route
A Costly Military Deportation
Unlike the chartered civilian flights typically used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), this military operation came with an exorbitant price tag. According to AFP, the Trump administration’s decision to use military aircraft reinforced its aggressive stance on illegal immigration. However, the financial burden was enormous—deporting individuals via a military plane is estimated to cost over $1 million, nearly three times the cost of a civilian charter flight.
Documents from the U.S. Air Mobility Command indicate that operating a C-17 Globemaster III costs $28,562 per flight hour, compared to just $8,577 for an ICE charter. Military deportation flights also follow longer, more complex routes due to security protocols and diplomatic restrictions, requiring refueling at U.S. military bases rather than commercial airports.
After more than 43 hours in the air, the flight finally landed in Amritsar, making it one of the most expensive deportations in U.S. history. The total cost, including the return flight to the U.S., exceeded $1 million—translating to over $10,000 per deportee. By contrast, a one-way commercial ticket from San Francisco to New Delhi costs about $500 in economy class or $4,000 in business class.