Deported illegal Indian immigrants land in Amritsar aboard US military aircraft

A United States military plane carrying illegal Indian immigrants landed in Amritsar, India on Wednesday, as part of US President Donald Trump's stringent immigration policies.

The military aircraft deported anywhere from 104 to 205 individuals, primarily hailing from the Punjab and Gujarat, according to an Reuters eyewitness.

This operation marks a significant shift in the Trump administration's approach to immigration enforcement, as it increasingly relies on military resources, including the deployment of military aircraft for deportations and the use of military bases for housing migrants.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that the C-17 aircraft with migrants on board had departed for India but would not arrive for at least 24 hours. The flight did not show up on public flight trackers but local news TV channels showed the aircraft taxiing after it landed in Amritsar.

Migration has been among the key issues discussed by India and the US since Trump took charge last month, and is also expected to come up during Trump's meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, likely to take place in Washington next week.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also 'emphasised' the Trump administration's desire to work with India to address "concerns related to irregular migration" when he met Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar last month.

New Delhi has since said it will take back such illegal immigrants after verifying their details.

The US is India's largest trading partner and the two countries are forging deeper strategic ties as they look to counter China.

India is also keen to work with the US to make it easier for its citizens to get skilled workers visas.

The Pentagon has said it plans to deport more than 5,000 migrants held by US authorities, and Reuters reported last week that a flight to Guatemala used for the purpose likely cost at least $4,675 per migrant.