Lok Sabha Question No. 3457 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-21
Subject: Adequate Facilities for Deported Indians
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian, Shri  Selvaganapathi T.M., Smt. Mala Roy, Thiru D M Kathir Anand

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-3457

ANSWERED ON- 21/03/2025

## ADEQUATE FACILITIES FOR DEPORTED INDIANS

3457. THIRU D M KATHIR ANAND

DR. T SUMATHY ALIAS THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN

SMT. MALA ROY

SHRI SELVAGANAPATHI T.M.

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

(a) whether it is a fact that many Indian were deported by the United States of America to India by three flights in the month of February, 2025;

(b) whether the Union Government has received the details of the persons to be deported from USA in the current year, if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(c)  whether the Union Government has requested US officials to provide adequate facilities for the Indian citizens to be deported

from USA, if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Prime Minister has raised his concerns with US President and top US officials for the ill treatment done to Indian Nationals deported from USA, if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether it is also true that Indian migrants were handcuffed and their legs shackled and they were forced to do a shuffled walk which is more commonly associated with hardened criminals;

(f) whether the Government has any plan to send our own aircraft to bring back Indians who were designated as illegal immigrants from USA and are to be deported in the coming days; and

(g) if so, the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (g) From January 2025 till date, a total of 388 Indian nationals have been deported to India from the United States. Of these, 333 Indian nationals, after verification, were deported directly from the U.S. to India on three separate chartered flights which landed on 5 th , 15 th and   16 th February   2025   respectively.   Separately,   the   U.S.

through Panama deported 55 Indian nationals who arrived in India on commercial flights.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities have recently shared with us information pertaining to an additional 295 individuals who are detained in their custody with final orders of removal from the U.S. The Ministry of External Affairs, along with other concerned agencies, is currently verifying the details of these 295 individuals.

The   Government   of   India   remains   engaged   with   the   U.S.   side regarding   the   humane   treatment   of   deportees   during   such operations. The Ministry has strongly registered its concerns with the U.S. authorities on the treatment meted out to deportees on the flight that landed on February 5th, 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 deportation 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 15th and 16th February 2025 respectively. This has also been confirmed and recorded by our agencies after interviewing the deportees on their arrival in India.

The   need   to   promote   safe,   orderly   and legal   migration   while cracking   down   on   illegal   immigration   networks   was   discussed during the recent visit of Prime Minister to the US on 12-13 February 2025. India's consistent stance against illegal immigration while seeking humane treatment of deportees was reiterated. Both sides acknowledged   the   need   to   cooperate   closely   in   aggressively addressing   illegal   immigration   and   human   trafficking   by   taking strong action against bad actors, criminal facilitators, and illegal immigration networks.

The U.S. is deporting only those Indian nationals who have been apprehended for violating the U.S. immigration laws. Illegal mobility and migration has many other associated activities, also of  an illegal   nature.   Moreover,   those   of   our   nationals   who   have   been enticed into illegal migration have themselves become prey to other crimes. Those who have recently returned have testified to their harrowing experiences.

The Government of India is focused on identifying and taking strong action against the illegal immigration agents, the migration rackets and   the   entire   criminal   ecosystem,   on   which   such   illegal immigration thrives.

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