Outrage in India: U.S. Reportedly Transporting Deportees in Handcuffs and Leg Chains

New Delhi — Tensions rose in India’s parliament on Thursday as opposition lawmakers protested the deportation of over 100 Indian migrants by the Trump administration. These individuals were brought back on a U.S. military plane, reportedly in handcuffs and leg chains.

The flight landed in Amritsar on Wednesday, marking the first such operation to India in a crackdown on undocumented migrants. The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that an Air Force C-17 aircraft was used for this operation.

During the protests in parliament, lawmakers expressed outrage over the treatment of the deportees. Shashi Tharoor, an MP from the Indian National Congress, stated, “While we accept that the U.S. has the right to deport illegal migrants, the method used here is unacceptable.” He emphasized that the migrants were treated inhumanely, shackled and confined to a military aircraft without proper care.

One deportee, Daler Singh, shared his experience with Reuters, saying, “We were cuffed the entire time. Even while eating, our cuffs remained locked.” Another deportee, Harvinder Singh, described the situation as “worse than hell,” as they were restrained for about 40 hours.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials defended the practice, stating that such measures are meant to ensure the safety of both the migrants and crew during flights. They shared a video that allegedly showed deportees being escorted onto the military plane with restraints.

Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the issue in parliament, clarifying that the U.S. practices these restraints during deportations but noted they were not used for women and children on this flight. He pledged to engage with U.S. officials to prevent mistreatment of returnees in the future.

Historically, more than 1,000 Indian migrants were deported from the U.S. last year on commercial flights without reports of mistreatment. The Indian government has also acknowledged the need for a stronger stance against human trafficking, which contributes to illegal immigration.

This deportation flight arrives just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington, where discussions with President Trump on immigration policies are anticipated.

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India, Narendra Modi, United States Border Patrol, Deportation, Mass Deportation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection