India in talks with US to ensure deportees are not mistreated: S. Jaishankar

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday assured the Rajya Sabha that the Indian government is actively engaging with the US to ensure that deported Indian migrants are treated with dignity. His statement came amid opposition protests over the alleged mistreatment of 104 Indians deported from the US recently.

Jaishankar emphasised that the rights of deportees must be protected but the focus should be on dismantling illegal migration networks. “We are certainly in talks with the US government to ensure that deportees who are returning are not subjected to any kind of mistreatment during the flight,” he said. “At the same time, the House will appreciate that our focus should be on cracking down on the illegal migration industry, while taking steps to ease visas for legitimate travellers,” he added.

The minister clarified that deportation by plane follows a standard operating procedure (SOP), which involves the use of restraints. However, he assured that women and children were not restrained. “Other needs of the deportees, such as food, medical emergencies and other requirements, are taken care of during the journey. During toilet breaks, the deportees are temporarily freed if required,” Jaishankar said.

Referring to the recent deportation flight, he reiterated that “there has been no change in the previous procedures for the flight undertaken by the US on February 5.” His remarks came in response to claims by some deportees that their hands and feet were handcuffed during the journey and were untied only upon landing in Amritsar.

15668 Indians deported from US since 2009

Jaishankar provided data in the Rajya Sabha, revealing that 15,668 illegal Indian immigrants have been deported from the US since 2009. He broke down the annual statistics, showing that deportations vary every year but peaked in 2019, when 2,042 Indians were deported. The numbers declined during the Covid-19 pandemic but saw a rise again in 2023 with 1,368 deportations.

The latest deportation of 104 individuals is the first such operation under the Joe Biden administration as part of a continued crackdown on illegal immigration. A US military plane carrying the deportees landed in Amritsar on Wednesday, sparking protests and concerns over the treatment meted out to them during the journey.

Jaishankar reaffirmed that the Indian government is committed to addressing illegal migration while ensuring that those deported are treated with respect. The matter remains a subject of diplomatic discussions between India and the US.