The deportation of 104 Indian nationals from the United States has sparked political discussions in India, particularly regarding the conditions under which they were sent back. On February 5, a U.S. military aircraft carrying the deportees landed in Amritsar, leading to concerns about the treatment of the returnees. Reports surfaced claiming that some of the deportees were handcuffed and had their legs chained during the flight. However, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar clarified that the use of restraints was in line with the standard operating procedure (SOP) followed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since 2012, which involves restraint during deportation, although women and children were not subjected to this.
Jaishankar emphasized that it is the responsibility of all countries to take back their nationals who are found to be living illegally abroad, stating that this practice is in accordance with international norms. He also assured the Indian Parliament that the government is engaging with the U.S. to ensure that deportees are treated with dignity and are not mistreated.
The deportation process is not new, with similar actions taken in previous years. Jaishankar shared data showing the year-wise number of Indian nationals deported from the U.S., underscoring that the issue has been ongoing for more than a decade. He further addressed the need to discourage illegal immigration, which often leads to exploitation, and called for strong action against the illegal immigration industry.
The opposition parties have raised concerns over the deportation, with some demanding a parliamentary discussion on the issue. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor pointed out that the deportation was part of a broader trend and not directly related to the Trump administration. Meanwhile, Jaishankar urged the focus to remain on addressing illegal immigration and protecting the welfare of Indian citizens abroad.
