India-US Deportation Data: S Jaishankar reveals 15-year figures
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar revealed that the U.S. has deported 15,756 Indians since 2009. He dismissed claims of new policies, stating deportations have occurred for years. He emphasized India’s engagement with the U.S. to ensure fair treatment for deportees.
Rising Deportations
Jaishankar presented year-wise data, showing a peak of 2,042 deportations in 2019. The latest batch, 104 illegal immigrants, arrived in Amritsar on a U.S. military aircraft. Many were from Haryana, Gujarat, and Punjab, having spent large sums on illegal migration.
Opposition Criticism
Opposition MPs condemned the government for not bringing deportees back with dignity. They compared India’s response to countries like Colombia, which arranged flights for their citizens. Trinamool MP Saket Gokhale questioned why India, as the world’s fifth-largest economy, couldn’t do the same.
US Policies and India’s Stand
Jaishankar clarified that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has followed the same deportation procedures since 2012. He assured Parliament that women and children were not restrained and deportees received food, medical care, and essential needs during transit.
