Explained: Will The Indian Deportees Send Back From US Face Criminal Charges In India?

Amritsar: The initial group of 104 Indian citizens deported by the United States during its continuous efforts against illegal immigration landed on February 5 at Shri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar on Wednesday morning. As Punjab prepares for this surge, officials have intensified efforts to check the backgrounds of the deported individuals, focusing particularly on recognizing those with criminal histories.

Indians were sent back to India after being held in the United States for entering the country illegally. The deportation took place at the Amritsar airport, where the people were delivered to Indian immigration officials.

Will The Deportees Face Any Criminal Charges On Illegal Stay?

It is crucial to recognize that these people will not encounter any legal repercussions in India for their unlawful presence in the US. Because the offense occurred on American territory, Indian laws are not applicable. Nonetheless, the Punjab police will look into how these people were able to illegally enter the US.

The inquiry will concentrate on whether these persons escaped India following a crime or if they received assistance from human trafficking organizations. If proof of such offenses is discovered, legal measures will be initiated against them.

Biometric scans have been conducted on them, and they will be prohibited from entering the US, regardless of valid paperwork. In addition, approximately 20 nations, such as Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the UK, adhere to the US visa policy, complicating travel for these persons to those countries.

Deportees Might Face Punishment In India

Should the deportees be convicted following the investigations, the penalty may vary from 1 to 7 years in prison, plus fines, based on the particular legal provisions enforced.

The investigation can be conducted under various laws, including:

- The Citizenship Act 1955 and Passport Act 1967, if the individuals tampered with or destroyed their passports.
- The Income Tax Act 1961, if money was laundered through hawala channels to fund their illegal journey.
- The Customs Act 1962, if the individuals illegally took money or property out of India.
- The Immigration Act 1983, for crossing the Indian border illegally.As a result of their deportation, these individuals will face significant travel restrictions.

US Bent On Irradicating Illegal Migrants

The expulsion comes after the enforcement measures initiated under the newly-elected US President Donald Trump, leading to the deportation of thousands of undocumented immigrants. Included are Indians who entered the US without authorization or were discovered breaching immigration regulations. Nonetheless, Punjab's worry extends beyond simple deportation; it aims to prevent individuals with criminal histories from rejoining society without oversight.