Lok Sabha Question No. 3646 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-21
Subject: Arrival of Deportees at Amritsar Airport
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Shri  Selvaganapathi T.M.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-3646

## ANSWERED ON- 21/03/2025

## ARRIVAL OF DEPORTEES AT AMRITSAR AIRPORT

3646. SMT. HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL

SHRI SELVAGANAPATHI T.M.

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-

(a) whether the US has sought prior permission to land their military planes on our land for deporting Indian citizens, if so, the details thereof;

(b) the details of the reasons and basis for choosing Amritsar as the landing site for deportation flights, despite deportees belonging to multiple States;

(c)   the   steps   taken/proposed   to   be   taken   by   the   Government   to ensure fair representation of all affected States in media coverage to prevent the defamation of Punjab;

(d)   whether   the   Government   is   considering   a   more   equitable distribution of deportation arrivals across States in the country in view of the fact that illegal migration is a national issue; and (e)   whether   the   Ministry   has   raised   any   concerns   with   the   US regarding   the   treatment   of   Indian   deportees,   particularly   their deportation in handcuffs and chains, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a to e) US aircraft ferrying deportees have landed in India after securing necessary permissions.

The landing site for any repatriation flight carrying deportees is decided based on operational convenience, the specific route for entry   into   Indian   air   space,   and   particularly,   proximity   to   final destinations of the arriving deportees.

From January 2025 till date, a total of 388 deportees arrived in India from U.S. Of these, a total of 333 Indian nationals arrived in Amritsar from the U.S. on three deportation flights that landed on 5th, 15th and 16th February 2025 respectively. State/UT-wise distribution of the 333 deportees is placed below:

| State/UT-wise    |   Feb 5 |   Feb 15 |   Feb 16 | Total     |
|------------------|---------|----------|----------|-----------|
| Punjab           |      30 |       65 |       31 | 126 (38%) |
| Haryana          |      33 |       33 |       44 | 110 (33%) |
| Gujarat          |      33 |        8 |       33 | 74 (22%)  |
| Uttar Pradesh    |       3 |        3 |        2 | 8 (2%)    |
| Maharashtra      |       3 |        2 |        0 | 5 (1.5%)  |
| Chandigarh       |       2 |        0 |        0 | 2 (0.6%)  |
| Goa              |       0 |        2 |        0 | 2 (0.6%)  |
| Rajasthan        |       0 |        2 |        0 | 2 (0.6%)  |
| Himachal Pradesh |       0 |        1 |        1 | 2 (0.6%)  |
| Jammu & Kashmir  |       0 |        1 |        0 | 1 (0.3%)  |
| Uttarakhand      |       0 |        0 |        1 | 1 (0.3%)  |
| Total            |     104 |      117 |      112 | 333       |

Separately, 55 Indian deportees arrived in New Delhi from the U.S. via   Panama   on   commercial   flights.   State/UT-wise   distribution   is placed below:

| State/UT      |   Feb 20 |   Feb 23 |   Feb 27 |   Feb 28 |   Mar 2 | Total    |
|---------------|----------|----------|----------|----------|---------|----------|
| Punjab        |        0 |        4 |        8 |        6 |       9 | 27 (49%) |
| Haryana       |        2 |        5 |        3 |        3 |       9 | 22       |
| Uttar Pradesh |        0 |        3 |        0 |        0 |       0 | 3 (5%)   |
| Gujarat       |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |       2 | 2 (4%)   |
| Rajasthan     |        0 |        0 |        0 |        0 |       1 | 1(2%)    |
| Total         |        2 |       12 |       11 |        9 |      21 | 55       |

The   Government   of   India   remains   engaged   with   the   U.S.   side regarding the need for humane treatment of Indian nationals during deportation operations. The Ministry strongly registered its concerns with the U.S. authorities on the treatment meted out to deportees on the flight that landed on February 5 th ,   particularly with respect to use of shackles, especially on women. The U.S. Standard Operating Procedure   to   organize   and   execute   deportations   effective   from November 2012 calls for the use of restraints on deportees. The U.S. authorities have conveyed that restraints are applied to ensure the safety and security of the mission. While women and minors are generally not shackled, the flight officer in charge of a deportation flight has the final say on the matter. The U.S. side has confirmed

that no women or children were restrained on the deportation flights that landed in India on February 15 th and 16 th respectively. This has also been confirmed and recorded by our agencies after interviewing the deportees on their arrival in India. *****