New Delhi: New Delhi: The central government announced on Friday that US authorities have identified 487 more illegal Indian migrants who are set to be deported soon. Addressing a press conference, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that the United States has issued removal orders for these individuals, described as “presumed Indian nationals.”
“We’ve been told there are 487 presumed Indian citizens with final removal orders,” Misri said. He also indicated that the number of deportations could rise as more information becomes available, but did not provide specific details about additional individuals.
The identities of the 487 migrants on the deportation list have already been verified by the Indian government.
A US military aircraft carrying 104 deported migrants landed in Amritsar on January 5, marking the first large-scale deportation under President Donald Trump’s administration as part of a crackdown against illegal immigrants.
The deportees, who had attempted to enter the United States through unauthorised means, claimed that their hands and legs were cuffed throughout the journey and that they were unshackled only after landing in Amritsar.
On the issue of “inhumane treatment” of Indian citizens deported by the US, Misri called it a “valid concern” and said that the Indian government will raise the issue with the US authorities. “The description by the EAM of the standard operating procedure relating to the use of restraints which has been communicated to us by US authorities including the immigration and customs enforcement. EAM attracted attention to the fact that these have been in practice for a long period,” he added.
Recently, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar informed that a total of 15,668 illegal Indian immigrants have been deported to India from the US since 2009. Making a statement in Rajya Sabha over the mistreatment of deportees, Jaishankar asserted that the process of deportation has been ongoing for several years and is not new.
Jaishankar said deportations by the US are organised and executed by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities and “the standard operating procedure for deportations by aircraft used by ICE that is effective from 2012, 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 during transit related to food and other necessities, including possible medical emergencies are attended to,” he informed the house.
