The Indian government has formally conveyed its concerns to the United States regarding the treatment of 104 Indian immigrants who were deported on February 5 aboard a 42-hour-long US military flight. The deportees, including women and children, were reportedly shackled in leg restraints and handcuffs, triggering outrage in the Indian Parliament and sharp criticism of the government’s response.
According to first-hand accounts from the deportees, women were handcuffed, and children were restrained with ropes around their legs, directly contradicting earlier assurances from the US government that women and children are not restrained on deportation flights. The revelations have sparked a diplomatic row, with India questioning whether these actions were consistent with international human rights norms.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who had previously informed Parliament that US officials assured India of humane deportation practices, now faces fresh scrutiny over the discrepancy between diplomatic assurances and the reported experiences of the deported individuals. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has since been in continuous discussions with US officials to verify the claims and prevent future incidents of similar nature.
The deportation of 104 individuals appears to be part of a larger crackdown by US immigration authorities on undocumented Indians. According to the MEA, the US has already identified 487 more Indians for deportation under its “final removal list”.
With the US adopting a harsher stance on immigration enforcement, the Indian government has urged its American counterparts to ensure humane treatment of deported nationals. When asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would take up the issue directly with President Donald Trump, MEA officials stated that “American and Indian officials are engaging on the matter at multiple levels.”
One of the most controversial aspects of this deportation was the use of a US military aircraft, a departure from the usual charter or commercial flights used for such removals. The Trump administration has reportedly deployed military flights as a tactic to pressure countries into accepting deported nationals quickly.
India has described this approach as “unprecedented”, with concerns mounting over whether future deportations will follow past procedures or continue using military assets. Several other countries, including Brazil and Colombia, have strongly condemned the use of military aircraft for deportations, labeling the practice “inhumane” and “undignified.”
The issue of deportations is particularly significant given the large undocumented Indian population in the US. According to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data:
Over 24,000 Indians have been detained for immigration violations. An estimated 7.25 lakh (725,000) undocumented Indians currently reside in the United States.
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