New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed Parliament that 3,258 Indian nationals have been deported by the United States between January and November 28 this year, the highest number since 2009. He highlighted India’s engagement with US authorities to ensure deportees are treated humanely, particularly women and children.
Jaishankar said the US deports individuals who illegally entered the country, overstayed visas, were undocumented, or have criminal convictions, adding that all deportations occur only after “unambiguous verification” of Indian nationality.
Addressing concerns raised about mistreatment, the minister confirmed that no instances of shackling women and children had come to the ministry’s notice since a February 5 deportation flight. However, he noted that 73-year-old Harjit Kaur was maltreated in detention before her deportation in September, though she was not handcuffed during the flight. India lodged a formal protest through a note verbale to the US embassy on September 26, urging American authorities to look into the matter.
Jaishankar explained that the restraining policy on US deportation flights has been in place since November 2012, implemented to prevent violence by deportees against fellow passengers and crew. He cited cases where wanted criminals, gangsters, and absconding offenders like Lakhwinder Singh and Anmol Bishnoi were deported under these protocols.
The minister also provided updates on action against human trafficking. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered 27 trafficking cases, arrested 169 individuals, and filed chargesheets against 132 people. This year, the NIA apprehended two major traffickers in Haryana and Punjab on August 7 and two more on October 2. Punjab has been a hotspot, prompting the state government to form a special investigation team (SIT), register 25 FIRs against 58 illegal travel agents, and arrest 16 people. Haryana registered 2,325 cases, 44 FIRs, and arrested 27 people, while Gujarat also arrested a key trafficker.
On the issue of visa cancellations for Indian students participating in pro-Palestine protests, Jaishankar said the revocation began in April following a new US policy. He noted that even minor offences led to visa cancellations or pressure to self-deport, but Indian authorities intervened wherever possible to ensure fairness. He stressed that visa issuance remains a sovereign right of the US, based on their assessment of national security risks.
According to figures shared in Parliament, 2,032 Indians were deported on commercial flights and 1,226 on chartered ICE or CBP flights. Historical data shows deportations were lower in previous years: 734 in 2009, 1,303 in 2016, and 2,042 in 2019. The surge aligns with intensified US action against illegal migration under the Trump administration.
