India's Parliament faced disruptions on Thursday as opposition lawmakers protested the alleged mistreatment of 104 Indian immigrants deported by the United States. The deportees arrived on a U.S. military plane in a northern Indian city, with reports indicating that their arms and legs were shackled during the flight.
The lawmakers raised concerns over the treatment of the deportees, with one describing them as being handcuffed, leg-chained, and facing difficulties in using the washroom. The incident led to the adjournment of Parliament's proceedings as lawmakers demanded a discussion on the deportation.
While attempting to calm the situation, Parliament speaker Om Birla noted that the transportation of deportees falls under U.S. foreign policy, emphasizing that the foreign country has its own rules and regulations.
One of the deportees, Jaspal Singh, shared his experience, mentioning that their restraints were removed only upon arrival at the Amritsar airport in India. He recounted the confusion among the deportees, who initially believed they were being taken to another camp in the U.S. before being informed of their return to India.
The use of the U.S. military for deportations is a relatively new approach that began under the Trump administration, with opposition lawmakers, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, staging protests outside the Parliament building.
The deportation incident occurred ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Washington, where immigration and bilateral trade are expected to be key topics of discussion between Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump.
While the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi emphasized the importance of enforcing immigration laws for national security and public safety, India expressed readiness to accept the deported citizens after verification.
India's stance against illegal immigration, citing links to organized crime, aligns with its cooperation with the U.S. on deportation matters. The State Department highlighted the deterrent effect of such deportations on illegal migration, aiming to prevent further unauthorized entries into the U.S.
Recent data revealed that 519 Indian nationals were deported to India between November 2023 and October 2024, reflecting ongoing efforts to address immigration challenges between the two countries.
As India ranks among the top countries with unauthorized immigrants in the U.S., the deportation issue underscores the complexities surrounding immigration policies and enforcement mechanisms.
