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EYE ON INDIA FEBRUARY 14, 2025 | The Indian Eye 8

DEPORTATIONS FROM US

Govt. says talks on with

Washington as Opposition protests

handcuffed deportees

EAM Jaishankar says that deportations by the US are organized and executed by ICE and the

standard operating procedure for deportation is effective from 2013

OUR BUREAU
New Delhi

tarting a major row, a US Air Force plane
carrying Indian citizens who allegedly illegally
Smigrated to the US arrived in Punjab’s Amrit-
sar on Wednesday. As many as 104 Indian nation-
als were onboard the plane that landed in Amritsar.
As the images of handcuffed and shackled deport-
ees circulated on social media, all hell broke loose.
Opposition leaders on Thursday criticized
the central government over the deportation of
104 Indians from the United States, alleging that
they were sent back in an “inhuman manner.” The
Congress leader claimed that the Prime Minister
Narendra Modi-led BJP government had “insult-
ed” the 140 crore Indians after 104 people, includ-
ing men, women and children, were returned to
Amritsar from the US in handcuffs and shackles.
Speaking to reporters, Surjewala said, “The
Prime Minister Modi government has insulted the
140 crore Indians. The way 104 Indians including MPs of the opposition parties hold a protest outside the parliament over the issue of deportation of alleged illegal Indian immi-
women, men and children were sent back to Am-
ritsar from the US in handcuffs and shackles in an grants from the US on Thursday (ANI Photo/Shrikant Singh)
inhuman manner has shamed the country. Unfor-
tunately, we expected the Prime Minister to have Indian nationals in Rajya Sabha on Thursday, that Jaishankar should have given the statement
responded to this deportation with ‘chappan inch Jaishankar said that deportations by the US are on deportation of Indians from US in the Lok
ka seena’ (a 56-inch).” organized and executed by the Immigration and Sabha first. EAM Jaishankar presented the state-
“We also asked why were the 104 Indians de- Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the standard op- ment on the US deportation of Indians in Rajya
ported from the US in shackles for 40 hours. But erating procedure for deportation by aircraft used Sabha earlier.
there was no answer from the government. The by ICE is effective from 2013. He said that there Stressing that nations need to take back their
other question we asked was whether the Indians has been no change from past procedures for the nationals if they are found to be living in abroad il-
who went to earn their living out of the country flight undertaken by the US on February 5. legally, he said, “It is the obligation of all countries
were terrorists. To which they did not have any an- Jaishankar said, “Deportations by the US are to take back their nationals if they are found to be
swer,” he added. organized and executed by the Immigration and living illegally abroad. This is naturally subject to an
Earlier, Congress MP Surjewala stated that Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities. The unambiguous verification of their nationality. This
more than 7.25 lakh Indian citizens went to the US standard operating procedure for deportation by is not a policy applicable to any specific country
in search of a better life because the Centre failed aircraft used by ICE has been effective since 2012. nor indeed one only practiced by India. It is a gen-
to fulfil its promises. I repeat, that is effective from 2012 and provides eral accepted principle in international relations.”
On Thursday, External Affairs Minister S Jais- for the use of restraints. However, we have been He called people-to-people exchanges “bed-
hankar has said that it is the obligation of all na- informed by ICE that women and children are not rock” of the deepening ties between India and
tions to take back their nationals if they are found restrained. Further, the needs of deportees includ- US. He stressed that mobility and migration has
to be residing there illegally and said that the In- ing during transit, related to food and other neces- a key role to enhancing its quality. He noted that
dian government is engaging the US government sities, including possible medical emergencies are illegally mobility and migration has many other
to ensure that the deportees are not mistreated in attended to. During toilet breaks, deportees are associated activities also of illegal nature. He
any manner. temporarily unrestrained if needed in that regard.” highlighted that those who have returned have
In his statement on the US deportation of But Opposition MPs raised slogans objecting recounted experiences.

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