NEW DELHI — On Thursday, India’s Parliament was in turmoil as opposition members protested the treatment of 104 Indian immigrants who were recently deported from the United States. A military plane brought these deported individuals back to India, marking the first such flight since a crackdown was instituted under the previous U.S. administration.
Reports indicated that the deportees were shackled during their flight, prompting lawmakers to demand a discussion about the matter. Notably, Congress member Renuka Chowdhury spoke out, describing the situation as inhumane. She mentioned that many deportees faced severe restrictions, even struggling to use the bathroom. Another Congress member, Gaurav Gogoi, labeled the treatment as “degrading.”
Speaker Om Birla attempted to calm the situation by reminding lawmakers that this issue fell under U.S. foreign policy and that other countries have their own laws to follow.
Among the deportees, Jaspal Singh shared his experience. He noted that their leg chains and handcuffs were only removed upon arrival in Amritsar. Initially, Singh and others thought they were being taken to another detention center in the U.S. until they were informed they were headed back to India.
Typically, deportations involve commercial or charter flights, but the use of military planes for this purpose is a newer practice adopted during the last presidential term.
Protests continued outside Parliament, led by figures like Rahul Gandhi. Some demonstrators wore handcuffs and held signs that read, “Humans, not prisoners.” This protest coincided with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Washington, D.C., where discussions on immigration were already underway between him and U.S. President Donald Trump.
A representative from the U.S. Embassy emphasized that enforcing immigration laws is crucial for national security. The U.S. maintains that it will continue to act against individuals who are unlawfully in the country. Meanwhile, India has expressed readiness to accept deported citizens, linking illegal immigration to organized crime.
Just recently, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that deportation flights are an effective method to combat illegal migration, highlighting the associated dangers. The State Department believes such actions will discourage others from attempting to immigrate illegally.
According to data reported in Parliament, 519 Indian nationals were deported from the U.S. between November 2023 and October 2024. A Pew Research Center study revealed that in 2022, India ranked third for the highest number of unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S., with an estimated 725,000 individuals.
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