New Delhi has raised concerns with Washington over the treatment of Indian deportees during repatriation flights, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed on Friday (February 7).
While he did not describe the discussions as a formal protest, he emphasised that India is engaged in ongoing conversations with US authorities to ensure humane treatment for deported individuals.
The development follows the recent deportation of 104 Indians, who had entered the US illegally, on a US military aircraft that landed in Amritsar on Wednesday. Reports surfaced that deportees were shackled throughout the 40-hour journey, including while eating and using the restroom, sparking criticism in the Indian Parliament.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar later stated that the US had cited Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) established in 2012 regarding the treatment of deportees.
Despite the US claim that women and children should not be restrained, multiple accounts, including reports by The Wire, suggested that women were also shackled, violating the SOPs. Addressing these concerns, Misri stated, “If specific issues are brought to our attention, we make our concerns known to the United States. Such treatment should ideally be avoided.”
According to US data, over 17,000 Indians may have received final removal orders, but actual deportations under President Donald Trump’s second administration remain in the low hundreds. Initially, the US provided India with a list of 203 individuals for deportation. The first batch of 104 arrived on Wednesday, and another 96 have been cleared for deportation following verification of their nationality.
Misri further stated that when India sought details on the number of potential returnees, US authorities identified 487 presumed Indian citizens with final removal orders. Of these, identifying details for 298 individuals were recently shared with India, which is currently verifying their status.
The use of a US military aircraft for deportation - a practice previously questioned by other countries - also raised concerns in India.
US officials reportedly characterised the flight as a national security operation, stating that it was the quickest method for deportation. Misri acknowledged this but indicated that India would explore alternative options for future repatriation flights.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Washington on February 13 for a working meeting with Trump, marking their first interaction since the US president's second-term inauguration. The issue of deportations could be among the topics of discussion.