ADVERTISEMENTs
.png)
Gujaratis deported from U.S. face emotional reunions
Full arrangements, including transportation, were made by the state government and the police department to safely transport all citizens home.
Security personnel escort Indian immigrants deported from the U.S., as they leave the airport in Ahmedabad, India February 6, 2025. / REUTERS/Amit Dave
A flight carrying 104 Indians who were deported from the United States arrived at Amritsar airport on Feb. 5. Among the deportees were 33 Gujaratis, who completed all necessary immigration clearances and verifications in Amritsar and arrived at the Ahmedabad airport in Gujarat early on Feb. 6.
Upon their arrival, some deportees were seen arriving in tears, while others hid their faces. Under police protection, all passengers were escorted to their respective districts in police vehicles.
Prompt Response
The Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel, along with the Home Minister of State, Harsh Sanghvi, took immediate action regarding the repatriation of the citizens. The state government issued instructions to senior officials to ensure the safety and coordination of the deportees from Gujarat. As a result, the 33 Gujarat residents were safely escorted to their homes with police assistance from Ahmedabad airport.
Authorities made comprehensive arrangements, including transportation, to ensure the safe return of all 33 deportees. Each district police appointed a nodal officer to oversee the safe transport of the citizens to their homes, under the guidance of local authorities.
Families Reunite
Among the deported citizens was the daughter of Kanubhai Patel from Chandranagar Dabhala village in Mehsana. In an emotional conversation with New India Abroad, Kanubhai shared that his daughter had traveled to Europe with friends a month ago, but he had lost contact with her afterward. Their last conversation took place on January 14, 2025. It wasn’t until he saw the list of deported citizens that he learned his daughter had ended up in the U.S. and was now returning.
In another case, Ketul Patel, a resident of Mund village in Patan, had moved to the U.S. from Surat six months ago. His family, now returning to Mund, said they were in shock and unable to speak to the media. Ketul, originally from Mehsana, had lived in Surat for several years due to his diamond business. In February 2024, he sold his house and moved abroad with his wife, without informing his family of their destination. It was only through the news of his deportation that his parents learned their son had been in the U.S. They expressed their relief at his safe return, despite the circumstances.
One of the returnees from Gujarat, Khushbu Patel, hails from the village of Luna in Vadodara. Her brother, speaking to the media, mentioned that Khushbu had traveled to America just a month ago via Europe. He expressed shock upon learning that she had been deported back to India. He described the distressing scene of Khushbu and other deportees being treated like prisoners on the plane, handcuffed during the journey. When the Vadodara police arrived with Khushbu from Ahmedabad, her father wept upon seeing her. Her brother added that Khushbu is currently in a fragile mental state and is not ready to speak to anyone at this time.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
ADVERTISEMENT
.jpg)
Video
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.png)
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login