The majority of Indians being deported from the US are from Punjab, raising concerns from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann about flights landing in the state. Following recent deportations, including 333 individuals on three flights, Mann criticized the federal government for allegedly defaming Punjab. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar clarified that handcuffing deportees is standard procedure based on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement rules established in 2015. Since May 2020, 21 flights have landed in Amritsar, with Punjab accounting for 37.8% of deportees, followed by Haryana and Gujarat. Jaishankar assured parliament that the government is addressing concerns regarding mistreatment during deportations.
New Delhi:
According to government sources, individuals from Punjab represent the largest group of Indians being deported by the US, following Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s recent objections to the flights arriving in his state. The government clarified the situation regarding the use of handcuffs, with Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar stating that there are regulations in place for deportation that allow for it.
Donald Trump’s campaign included a promise to intensify the crackdown on illegal immigrants. Since his inauguration, three military aircraft have transported deportees back to India.
After the initial flight arrived on February 5, Bhagwant Mann accused the central government of attempting to tarnish Punjab’s image, arguing that a sacred city like Amritsar should not serve as a “deportation center.” This particular flight included 30 deportees from Punjab and 33 each from Haryana and Gujarat.
Sources reported that since May 2020, a total of 21 flights have landed in Amritsar.
Three flights arrived on February 5, February 15, and February 16, carrying a total of 333 Indians. This group comprised 262 men, 42 women, 18 boys, and 11 girls.
Of these deportees, the highest number came from Punjab, totaling 126, which accounts for 37.8 percent. Following Punjab, Haryana had 110 residents making up 33 percent of the passengers. Additionally, 74 passengers, or 22 percent, were from Gujarat. The remaining individuals were from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Goa, and one each from Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir.
The guidelines for the deportation of illegal immigrants were outlined in a handbook released by USICE in 2015, as reported by sources.
The handbook explicitly states that according to the policy established in November 2012, individuals being transported by ICE planes are to be handcuffed. The US has adhered to this policy during the deportation of Indians.
In response to protests from opposition parties regarding the handcuffing of deportees, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar informed Parliament on February 6 that the government is communicating with the US to ensure that deported Indians are treated humanely.