As a second US plane carrying deported Indian nationals prepares to land in Amritsar, a report has revealed that smugglers are openly using social media to facilitate illegal migration to the United States. According to the New York Post, human traffickers, known as “coyotes,” have been advertising their services on TikTok, offering Indian nationals a route into the US via Canada for as much as $5,000. These posts, claim to provide a “100% safe” journey with “payment after reach.”
The social media posts promise a hassle-free crossing from cities like Montreal, Brampton, and Surrey into the US states of New York or Washington. The New York Post contacted a smuggler who confirmed a charge of $4,500 for a journey involving a two-hour car ride and a 25-minute walk through the woods, where migrants are given a map to navigate the border. Up to five individuals are reportedly taken at a time in these “group walks.”
While smugglers continue to exploit social media for illegal migration, the US has intensified its crackdown. On Saturday, a plane carrying 119 deported Indian nationals is set to arrive at Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport. This marks the second batch of deportees under the Trump administration’s stricter immigration policies. Official told confirmed that 67 of those being deported are from Punjab, 33 from Haryana, eight from Gujarat, three from Uttar Pradesh, two each from Goa, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, and one each from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. A third flight, carrying 157 deportees, is expected to arrive on February 16.
Earlier this month, a US military aircraft transported 104 deportees back to India. Many of them had attempted to enter the US using “donkey routes,” a term for the illegal and often dangerous paths taken by migrants. These individuals had reportedly paid large sums to human traffickers but were caught at the border and sent back in shackles.
The deportations have sparked controversy, particularly in Punjab, where chief minister Bhagwant Mann has accused the central government of deliberately choosing Amritsar as the landing site to “defame Punjab and Punjabis.” Addressing the media on Friday, Mann questioned the selection of Amritsar over other major airports like Delhi, alleging a political agenda behind the move. He claimed that the Centre was portraying Punjab as a hub for illegal migration, despite the issue being a nationwide problem.
“The BJP-led Centre always discriminates against Punjab. It does not let go of any chance to defame the state,” Mann said. He insisted that Punjab would welcome the deportees with dignity and offer them support, including a visit to the Golden Temple’s langar. Mann also demanded action against fraudulent agents responsible for misleading youth into illegal migration.
In response, BJP leader Tarun Chugh accused Mann of playing politics over the issue. He argued that the real concern should be why so many young people were forced to migrate illegally in the first place. “People of Punjab want to know who misled these youths, who forced them to sell their land and homes. Rather than catching the culprits, the AAP leader is politicising the issue,” Chugh said.