delhi

Updated: Nov 20, 2019 13:50 IST

More than 140 Indians, including 3 women, were deported from Arizona in the United States landed at the New Delhi international airport around 7am on Wednesday. Majority of these deported Indians, who are in the age group of 25-35, hail from Punjab and Haryana and a few from Gujarat in the age group of 25-35.

Most of these Indians had crossed over to America illegally through the Mexico border. While some were detained by US border officials soon after they crossed over, there were others who were working in America for sometime during which period they were caught by immigration authorities during raids.

There are multiple routes through which the immigrants had reached Mexico. While some had gone through Equador and other South American countries, there were others who went through Greece, Italy and other European countries.

Many of these Indians overstayed in the US in violation of visa norms, the officials said on condition of anonymity.

“We have been informed the flight has some Bangladeshi and Sri Lanka nationals on board. A majority of these deportees are expected to be aged between 20 and 35. All of them have been given emergency certificates which allows them only one-way journey from the US to India,” said one of the officials cited above said.

The deportees were received at the terminal 3 (T3) of Delhi airport. “Their records will be maintained and some documentation will take place. We have seen in the past that such agents charge Rs 10-15 lakh for facilitating one person’s entry into the US. Once they are here, we will also try to track down such agents functioning from India. Since they are from different states, their concerned police will be informed if anything significant is found,” the official said.

On October 23, the US deported 117 Indians in a similar manner.

On October 18, as many as 311 Indian deportees, escorted by 60 security personnel, arrived in New Delhi in a Boeing 747 that took off from Toluca City international airport in Mexico. Most of these belonged to Punjab and Haryana and many were caught when they were just metres away from crossing over to the US.

The move came after US President Donald Trump threatened tariffs in May on all Mexican imports if the country failed to check people entering America illegally through Mexico’s borders.