A new report from Hindustan Times claims that the US deported 33 Indian and 121 Pakistani undocumented immigrants on 14 February. An unscheduled flight on that date was received by the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, containing deportees from South Asia, and dropped off 33 Indians alleged to be undocumented immigrants in the US.
An officer with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), responsible for airport security, claims that 121 Pakistanis, all undocumented immigrants being deported from the US, were also on the flight. The flight went from New Delhi to Islamabad to drop off those from Pakistan.
The officer, who wished to remain anonymous, added that the airport had been told in advance that a large number of deported immigrants were being moved and that the flight landed at about 8:30 am, with officials present from the external affairs ministry helping to move the deportees. After completion of formalities, the immigrants were then moved to the states from which they originated.
Another official with the CISF, also requesting anonymity, said that although small batches of Indian immigrants had been deported before, the event was the first time that Delhi airport had played host to a special plane filled with deportees from South Asia. A Delhi police officer corroborated the information. A spokesperson for the US Embassy in New Delhi said that the US and India enjoy a “warm relationship” on law enforcement issues.