A significant political controversy has erupted regarding the deportation of over 100 Indian nationals from the United States, with the Opposition questioning the Centre’s failure to intervene and facilitate their return. The deportees, many of whom reportedly entered the U.S. illegally, arrived in Amritsar yesterday, reportedly handcuffed and shackled aboard a U.S. military aircraft.
The Centre has defended its approach, citing international obligations, but Opposition leaders have criticized it for inaction and not adequately protecting Indian citizens from alleged mistreatment.
Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale and Aam Aadmi Party’s Sanjay Singh raised concerns in Parliament following External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s address, highlighting that the Indian government has previously organized special flights to evacuate citizens from crisis situations.
Gokhale remarked, “As the fifth-largest economy in the world, soon to be ‘Vishwa Guru,’ it is troubling that our citizens are being treated this way, while countries like Colombia, which does not even rank in the top ten, can send aircraft to repatriate their citizens with dignity. Why can’t our government do the same?”
In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, India successfully executed large-scale evacuations from various countries, including bringing back citizens from Wuhan, China, and conducting mass evacuations during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Given this history, Opposition figures are questioning why the Indian government did not take similar actions to bring back the deported nationals from the U.S., instead allowing them to be transported under strict U.S. security measures.
“How did a U.S. military plane land in India? Why were our citizens brought back in handcuffs?” Singh asked in Parliament.
Gokhale added, “It’s perplexing that the External Affairs Minister seems more focused on defending U.S. deportation policies than safeguarding our citizens’ interests.”
In response, Jaishankar defended the government’s position, stating that all nations have an obligation to accept their nationals living illegally abroad. He noted that the deportations were executed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following established procedures since 2012.
“The U.S. deportation process is organized by ICE, which employs restraints as part of their standard operating procedures, although we have been assured that women and children are not restrained,” Jaishankar explained. He emphasized ongoing dialogues with U.S. authorities to ensure deportees are treated appropriately.
“It’s essential for us to promote legal migration while discouraging illegal movement,” he added.
The U.S. Embassy in India has commented that it cannot disclose specific details but emphasized its commitment to enforcing immigration laws, reinforcing that illegal migration poses significant risks.
In light of the backlash, the Centre is contemplating the introduction of a new piece of legislation, tentatively titled the Overseas Mobility (Facilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2024. This proposed law aims to ensure “safe, orderly, and regular migration for overseas employment” and could establish a framework for future immigration and deportation policies.
