Thu Feb 06 09:23:19 UTC 2025: ## India Outraged Over Harsh US Deportation of 104 Indian Nationals

**New Delhi, India** – The United States’ deportation of 104 Indian nationals has sparked widespread outrage in India, with opposition parties demanding a parliamentary debate and accusing the US of inhumane treatment. The deportees, described as illegal immigrants, were flown back to India on a military transport plane, shackled and handcuffed, after a nearly day-long journey.

The US Border Patrol (USBP) released a video on X (formerly Twitter) showing the migrants being escorted onto the plane, accompanied by a statement from USBP Chief Michael W. Banks asserting the agency’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws. The video, set to dramatic music, depicts the migrants’ legs shackled and their forced march onto the aircraft, fueling criticism in India.

The deportees recounted harrowing experiences, detailing perilous journeys involving human traffickers and exorbitant fees. Jaspal Singh, for instance, reportedly paid 30 lakh rupees (approximately $36,000 USD) to an agent, only to be forced onto an illegal route that involved traversing several South American countries. Harwinder Singh described a similarly arduous journey, revealing he paid 42 lakh rupees and witnessed a fellow migrant die in the Panama jungle.

Opposition parties in India, led by Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, staged protests outside Parliament, holding placards and handcuffs to symbolize their condemnation. They accused the government of inaction and demanded an explanation for the US’s methods. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor acknowledged the US’s right to deport illegal immigrants but criticized the “unnecessary” and “unacceptable” treatment of the Indian nationals. Other opposition parties echoed this sentiment, with some questioning why India did not use its own aircraft for repatriation.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar responded in Parliament, stating that the deportation process is not new, although he did not directly address the concerns about the treatment of the deported individuals. Meanwhile, the Indian government is reportedly considering a new law, the “Overseas Mobility (Facilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2024,” aimed at improving the safety of Indian migrants abroad. The bill emerged from a report presented to the Lok Sabha by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs on Monday.

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