“India Raises Concerns Over US Deportation of 388 Nationals, Calls for Humane Treatment”
New Delhi: The Indian government has confirmed that 388 Indian nationals have been deported from the United States since January 2025, with a majority of them—333 individuals—flown back on three military flights in February. Another 55 were deported through Panama on commercial flights, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh informed Parliament on Friday.
Government Seeks Fair Treatment for Deportees
Responding to parliamentary queries, the minister stated that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently provided information on an additional 295 Indian nationals currently in detention, awaiting deportation orders. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is now verifying their details.
The Indian government was also questioned on whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised concerns with US President Donald Trump regarding the alleged mistreatment of deportees. Singh affirmed that India had expressed its stance on illegal immigration while advocating for the humane treatment of deported individuals.
“The need to promote safe, orderly, and legal migration while cracking down on human trafficking and illegal immigration networks was discussed during the Prime Minister’s visit to the US on February 12-13,” Singh said.
Both governments have agreed to take strong action against individuals and networks facilitating illegal migration. However, the US has maintained that only those violating immigration laws are being deported.
Concerns Over Shackling of Deportees
The treatment of deportees—especially those on the February 5 flight—sparked outrage in India. Reports of individuals being restrained, including women, led to strong protests from the Indian government.
“The US Standard Operating Procedure for deportations, effective since November 2012, calls for the use of restraints on deportees,” Singh explained. “However, we have strongly registered our concerns, particularly regarding the use of shackles on women.”
Deportation Flights and Their Destinations
The first deportation flight, a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster, landed in Amritsar on February 5, carrying 104 Indian nationals. This marked the first such mass deportation under the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration.
The distribution of deportees by state was as follows:
February 5 (104 deportees): Punjab (30), Haryana (33), Gujarat (33), Maharashtra (3)
February 15 (117 deportees): Punjab (65), Haryana (33), Gujarat (8)
February 16 (112 deportees): Punjab (31), Haryana (44), Gujarat (33)
Separately, the 55 Indians deported via Panama arrived in New Delhi on commercial flights between February 20 and March 2.
Why Amritsar?
When asked why Amritsar was chosen as the landing site despite deportees belonging to multiple states, Singh explained that the decision was based on operational convenience, airspace entry routes, and proximity to the deportees’ home states.
India’s Longstanding Issue with Deportations
Between 2009 and 2024, the US has deported a total of 15,564 Indian nationals. Many of these individuals were victims of illegal immigration rackets, often enduring dangerous journeys and exploitation before being caught.
“Illegal migration is linked to other criminal activities. Many of those who returned have shared harrowing accounts of their experiences,” Singh added.
While India acknowledges the need to curb illegal immigration, it continues to push for the protection and dignity of its citizens caught in the process. The government remains engaged in discussions with US authorities to ensure deportations are handled with care and fairness.
News Source : “Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.”
