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The government told Parliament that the External Affairs Ministry raised concerns with US authorities about the treatment of deportees on the February 5 flight, especially shackling women.
US military aircraft carrying Indian deportees from US | File Image/PTI
The central government told Parliament on Friday that the External Affairs Ministry had “strongly registered its concerns with the US authorities on the treatment meted out to deportees on the flight that landed on February 5, particularly for the use of shackles, especially on women”. The government added that 295 more deportees could be returning from the US soon.
“The Ministry strongly registered its concerns with the US authorities on the treatment meted out to deportees on the flight that landed on February 5th, particularly with respect to use of shackles, especially on women,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a written answer.
The Ministry said that the US side has confirmed that no women or children were restrained on the deportation flights that subsequently landed in India on February 15 and 16 respectively. “This has also been confirmed and recorded by our agencies after interviewing the deportees on their arrival in India,” the Ministry said in a statement.
“The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities have recently shared with us information pertaining to an additional 295 individuals who are detained in their custody with final orders of removal from the US The Ministry of External Affairs, along with other concerned agencies, is currently verifying the details of these 295 individuals,” the Ministry has also told Parliament.
The government was replying to a question put forth by Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas, who sought information on the following issues.
(a) whether the Government has received any information from the US administration regarding the total number of illegal immigrants holding Indian passports currently in the USA;
(b) if so, the details thereof, including the total number of Indian passport holders awaiting deportation from the USA;
(c) whether the Government has initiated any discussions or negotiations with the US administration to prevent the handcuffing, shackling, and inhumane treatment of Indian deportees during transit; and
(d) if so, the details and current status thereof?
388 Indians Deported So Far
Responding to the queries, the Centre explained its stance and its communication with the US authorities.
A total of 388 Indians landed here in various deportation flights from the US since February 5. 40% of the deportees belonged to Punjab and 34% to Haryana – the government has said, giving figures to justify why the planes landed in Amritsar. “The landing site for any repatriation flight carrying deportees is decided based on operational convenience, the specific route for entry into Indian air space, and particularly, proximity to final destinations of the arriving deportees,” the government said.
The government has also said that it is not in receipt of any firm information from the US Administration regarding the total number of illegal immigrants in the United States holding Indian passports.
“Foreign nationals who have entered the US illegally, or who have overstayed their visa validity, or found to be staying in the US without any valid documentation or have criminal convictions against them are likely to be deported. It is the obligation of all countries to take back their nationals, if they are found to be living illegally abroad,” the Ministry said in a reply.
The government said US has been carrying out deportation operations for several years now. From 2009 to 2024, a total of 15,564 Indian nationals have been deported by the US to India.
The US Standard Operating Procedure to organise and execute deportations effective from November 2012 calls for the use of restraints on deportees. “The US authorities have conveyed that restraints are applied to ensure the safety and security of the mission. While women and minors are generally not shackled, the flight officer in charge of a deportation flight has the final say on the matter,” the Ministry has said in its response to Parliament.
