Deportees: 'Strongly registered' concerns with the US, says Centre
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New Delhi: Over the pitiful treatment of Indian deportees by the US authorities, the Union government told the Parliament that New Delhi "strongly registered" its concerns with the Trump administration, PTI reported.
A US military aircraft that landed in Amritsar on February 5 carried illegal immigrants from India into the US, and they, including women, were shackled and restricted from moving during the entire flight.
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written response to a query in the Lok Sabha, also said the "US side has conveyed" to the MEA that detainees on the three deportation flights (that landed on February 5, 15 and 16 respectively) were "not instructed to remove any religious head coverings and that the detainees did not request any religious accommodations during the flights aside from requesting for vegetarian meals".
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in its response, said that it had also registered its concerns regarding the need to accommodate the religious sensitivities and food preferences of the deportees.
The MEA was asked whether the government has taken cognisance of reports regarding the Indian deportees being shackled during repatriation by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and if it has raised any formal diplomatic objections with the United States regarding the treatment of the Indian deportees.
The government was also asked whether the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for deportation by aircraft effective since 2012 has "allowed the use of restraints" and, if so, whether India has sought any modifications for its nationals.
The MEA remains engaged with the US side regarding the humane treatment of the deportees during deportation operations, Mr Singh said.
"The ministry has strongly registered its concerns with the US authorities on the treatment meted out to deportees on the flight that landed on 5th February 2025, particularly with respect to the use of shackles, especially on women," he said.