'Deporting Indians is not new to US, it's been done before'; S Jaishankar responds

NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has responded to the opposition which raised concerns in the Parliament about the human rights violation in the US's action of deporting Indians over alleged illegal immigration. Jaishankar pointed out that the deportation of Indians was not the first such instance, citing figures from previous years, specifically from 2009 onward. His response came in the context of the controversial manner in which Indians were deported.

"Illegal activities cannot be accepted. India has an obligation to take back those who are illegally staying in the US. The process of deportation by the US is not new. Deportations by the US are organized and executed by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities. The standard operating procedure for deportation by aircraft used by ICE has been effective since 2012. I repeat, that is effective from 2012 and provides for the use of restraints. However, we have been informed by ICE that women and children are not restrained. Further, the needs of deportees including during transit, related to food and other necessities, including possible medical emergencies are attended to. During toilet breaks, deportees are temporarily unrestrained if needed in that regard. India has asked the U.S. not to treat Indians badly. Strict actions are needed against illegal immigration agencies," said Jaishankar.

This prompted a strong reaction from the opposition. Congress MP Randeep Surjewala questioned why Indians were being treated like terrorists. The Congress party, which inquired about the number of Indians in US custody, also questioned why India did not send a plane to the US to repatriate the Indians, as countries like Colombia had done.