Amritsar: A US Air Force plane carrying more than a hundred Indian migrants expelled by the United States landed in Amritsar, India, on Wednesday, according to local media reports.

An AFP photographer witnessed the military aircraft's arrival, with Indian media stating it was carrying 104 Indian migrants. This comes as part of a broader crackdown on undocumented migrants following Donald Trump's re-election. Since his January 20 inauguration, thousands of undocumented individuals have been arrested, including some facing criminal charges.

Trump's executive orders on immigration are expected to impact an estimated 11 million undocumented migrants in the U.S. However, neither New Delhi nor Washington has officially commented on these deportations. A US embassy spokesperson in India stated that Washington is "vigorously enforcing its border, tightening immigration laws, and removing illegal migrants."

India's foreign ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, reiterated that New Delhi strongly opposes illegal migration, especially due to its links to organized crime. He emphasized that as part of India-US migration and mobility cooperation, both sides are working to deter illegal migration while facilitating more legal pathways for Indians to move to the U.S.

Despite India's booming economy, many Indians still seek better opportunities abroad, with the United States being a preferred destination. Data from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shows that over 5,000 Indians were deported between 2018 and 2023.

Notably, Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have shared warm relations in the past. Indian media have widely reported that Modi may visit Washington next week, potentially meeting Trump for discussions on migration and other key issues.