The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday clarified that the women and children, who were deported from the United States in two batches last week, were not restrained during the flights.
The deportees, who arrived in India on February 5, alleged that they were held in shackles and faced harassment throughout the flight. The allegations raised by the illegal immigrants from the US triggered a massive political storm in India with the opposition parties urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up the issue with his US counterpart during his meeting with Donald Trump.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India had shared its concerns with the US authorities that the people brought back be in a humane manner and their religious sensitivities be kept in mind.
Watch: MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "We have seen reports about deportation flights to Panama and Costa Rica. It is our understanding that these have been undertaken as part of a bridge arrangement between the US and the respective governments. Both Costa Rica and… pic.twitter.com/cAfXSXNXua
— IANS (@ians_india) February 21, 2025
"The flights that arrived in India on February 15 and 16, as per our understanding, women and children were not subjected to any kind of shackling," said Jaiswal.
Indians were deported from the US as part of Donald Trump's massive crackdown on illegal immigrants. They were deported on a C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the US Air Force so far.
#WATCH | MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "The India-US joint statement mentions that the US side is reviewing its policy on releasing fifth-generation fighter aircrafts to India. President Trump had also made a reference during the press conference to F-35 aircraft. No… pic.twitter.com/OG28vWkXXw
— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2025
104 Indians arrived on February 5, while 116 and 112 deportees arrived on February 15 and 16 respectively.
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External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar assured that the Centre is engaging with the US to ensure that the deportees are not mistreated.
During the MEA press briefing, Jaiswal also mentioned the deportation of a group of Indians to Panama from the US. About 299 migrants were sent to Panama.
"We have seen some reports of deportation flights to Panama and Costa Rica. It is our understanding that these have been undertaken as per a bridge arrangement between the US and the respective governments...Our mission in Panama and Costa Rica is in touch with local authorities," he said.
The Centre is verifying if there are any Indians deported to the region.
Recently, a report claimed that nearly 300 individuals from various countries including Iran, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and China, who were deported from the US, were confined in a hotel in Panama. Desperate messages for "help" were displayed on the hotel windows.
