(Image source from: Ptcnews.tv)

In response to the uproar from the Opposition regarding the expulsion of more than 100 undocumented Indian immigrants by the United States, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated on Thursday that such measures are "not new." He provided statistics concerning the deportation of Indians over the past 15 years. Since 2009, a total of 15,756 undocumented Indian immigrants have been sent back from the US to India, according to the minister’s remarks in the Rajya Sabha. "Deportation procedures by the US are not recent. They have existed for many years. This is not a policy exclusive to any single country. Our priority should be addressing illegal migration... We are in discussions with the US to guarantee that returning individuals are treated humanely," the minister noted.

Mr. Jaishankar's data indicated that the highest number of deportations occurred in 2019, with 2,042 Indians sent back, followed by 1,889 in 2020, coinciding with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Recently, a US military aircraft transporting 104 undocumented Indian immigrants arrived in Amritsar, marking the first group deported under the Donald Trump administration's efforts to tackle illegal immigration. Among this group, 33 individuals were from Haryana, 33 from Gujarat, 30 from Punjab, three each from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, and two from Chandigarh.

Many of these individuals had invested significant amounts of money, often acquired through loans, under the belief they would gain legal entry into the US. Instead, they endured harrowing journeys through multiple countries organized by human traffickers. Following their arrival, numerous alarming accounts emerged detailing the conditions of their transport from the US to India. A video released by the US Border Patrol depicted the migrants with handcuffs and shackled legs, forced to shuffle in a manner typically associated with serious offenders. This method of deportation sparked a strong backlash from opposition members in India, who criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his administration. They further questioned why the government did not arrange for a plane to return its citizens in a "humane manner."

"We rank as the fifth-largest economy globally... if countries like Colombia, which do not even make the top ten, can deploy an aircraft to repatriate their citizens with respect, what prevents our government from doing the same? We are not lacking resources," asserted Trinamool MP Saket Gokhale, highlighting Colombia's stance on the immigration situation. In response to these allegations in Parliament, Mr. Jaishankar clarified that the deportations are carried out in a systematic manner by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities are responsible for coordinating and carrying out deportations in the United States. Since 2012, a set procedure has been in place for deportations conducted by aircraft. To clarify, this protocol has been in effect since 2012 and includes provisions for the use of restraints. However, ICE has communicated that women and children are not subjected to restraints. Additionally, the requirements of deportees during transit, such as access to food and other essential items, as well as any potential medical emergencies, are properly addressed. When it comes to restroom breaks, deportees are momentarily released from restraints if necessary, he mentioned.

Here is the year-wise data of Indians deported from US:

2009: 734
010: 799
2011: 597
2012: 530
2013: 515
2014: 591
2015: 708
2016: 1,303
2017: 1,024
2018: 1,180
2019: 2,042
2020: 1,889
2021: 805
2022: 862
2023: 617
2024: 1,368
2025 (till February 5): 104