While emphasizing India’s ongoing dialogue with the United States to ensure that deportees are treated humanely during their return, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has advocated for a robust government approach to combat illegal immigration and for easing visa regulations for legitimate travelers.
Jaishankar addressed the recent deportation of 104 undocumented immigrants by the Trump administration during a session in the Rajya Sabha. He stated that, based on insights obtained from the deportees regarding the agents and others involved, law enforcement agencies would take appropriate preventive and punitive measures.
The central government’s acquiescence to the Trump administration’s decision to repatriate individuals on a U.S. military aircraft, with shackles on their hands and feet, has attracted considerable criticism from opposition parties. Congress MP Randeep Surjewala questioned whether the government was aware that deportees were restrained and that an estimated 750,000 Indians in the U.S. have been marked for deportation.
Surjewala further requested details concerning the number of Indians currently detained in deportation facilities in the U.S. and the number who have been granted consular access.
In his response, Jaishankar explained that the standard operating procedures for deportation flights established by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since 2012 include the use of restraints. However, he assured that ICE has indicated that women and children are not subjected to restraints, and that deportees’ needs during transit—such as food, medical emergencies, and restroom breaks—are taken into account.
“We are actively engaging with the U.S. government to ensure that deportees are not mistreated in any way during their flights,” Jaishankar added.
Opposition members pressed the government on the lack of initiative to send a dedicated flight for the safe return of these individuals. Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale remarked, “As the fifth-largest economy in the world, soon to be recognized as ‘Vishwa Guru,’ it is unacceptable for our citizens to be shackled like this. If a nation like Colombia, which does not rank among the top ten, can organize a flight to bring their citizens back with dignity, why can’t our government do the same, especially when we have adequate resources?”
Jaishankar reiterated that the deportation process is not a new phenomenon and has been in place for several years.
