External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday said that deportation of illegal immigrants from the US is a "standard procedure", adding that the Centre is in talks with the Donald Trump administration to ensure that Indians are not mistreated during their flight home.
The minister's remarks come a day after 104 Indian illegal immigrants were deported by the US. These included 33 each from Haryana and Gujarat, 30 from Punjab and three each from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
#WATCH | Speaking in Rajya Sabha on Indian citizens deported from the US, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "It is in our collective interest to encourage legal mobility and discourage illegal movement...It is the obligation of all countries to take back their nationals if they are found… pic.twitter.com/iH8NRou51M
— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2025
The Opposition MPs protested in the Parliament over reports that the Indian citizens were handcuffed and their feet in chains during the flight to Amritsar. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said the US move to handcuff Indians was an insult to the dignity of the country.
However, the minister tried to clarify the situation, saying "the House should understand that our focus must be on a strong crackdown on the illegal migration industry." He added that the government is following measures to facilitate visas for legitimate travellers.
Jaishankar clarified that while deporting by flight, using restraints are part of the standard operating procedure. However, the minister pointed out that women and children were not restrained during deportation.
He pointed out that there is nothing new with deportation of illegal immigrants and listed past instances since 2009 when similar deportations were carried out. He added that host nations are obligated to take back their citizens who found living illegally abroad.
The minister said that the law enforcement will take preventive measures to crack down on agents who traffick migrants illegally to other countries.
