Deportation: Anger, Frustration Builds In India, US Border Patrol Chief Posts, “You Will Be Removed”

India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI – Illegal Indian immigrants deported by the US arrived on February 6 at the Ahmedabad airport here. A US military C-17 Globemaster aircraft carrying deported Indian nationals had landed in Amritsar on February 5, carrying 104 expelled Indian nationals.

The deportations have sparked anger and concern among political leaders and families of the returnees. Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal expressed his frustration, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene. “Modiji calls Trump (former US President Donald Trump) his friend. I request PM Modi ji to speak to Trump to find a solution to this issue,” he stated.

Family members of the deported individuals reacted with a mix of relief and anxiety. One relative in Vadodara said, “I don’t know much. My daughter is back. We learned through the media that this was going to happen. I am just happy she is home safely.” Another family member lamented the lack of communication, stating, “No one informed me. My son, daughter-in-law, and grandchild were there. They never spoke to me on the phone. People are saying they will return, but I don’t know anything.”

USBP and partners successfully returned illegal aliens to India, marking the farthest deportation flight yet using military transport. This mission underscores our commitment to enforcing immigration laws and ensuring swift removals.

If you cross illegally, you will be removed. pic.twitter.com/WW4OWYzWOf

— Chief Michael W. Banks (@USBPChief) February 5, 2025

Addressing the matter in Parliament, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said it was India’s responsibility to take back its nationals found residing illegally abroad. He assured lawmakers that the Indian government was actively engaging with US authorities to ensure deportees were treated humanely.

“Deportations by the US are carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement following procedures in place since 2012, which include restraints. However, ICE has informed us that women and children are not restrained, and deportees’ basic needs are taken care of,” Jaishankar said in the Rajya Sabha. He emphasized that this process remains unchanged and applies to both chartered civilian and military aircraft.

Meanwhile, the United States Border Patrol Chief, Michael W. Banks, shared a 24-second video on X. His post stated, “Successfully returned illegal aliens to India, marking the farthest deportation flight yet using military transport. This mission underscores our commitment to enforcing immigration laws.” Accompanying the video was a firm warning: “If you cross illegally, you will be removed.” It is unclear whether this was a video of Indians or a file video showing people in handcuffs.

The use of a US military aircraft for the deportation has drawn criticism from the opposition. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor remarked, “If you’re in the US illegally, the US has the right to deport you. And if your identity as an Indian is confirmed, India has an obligation to accept you. However, it wasn’t good to hear that they were brought back in a military plane, handcuffed, and so on… that was quite unnecessary.”

Amid protests in Parliament over the Amid protests in Parliament over the inhuman manner” of deportation, Jaishankar reiterated that restraints were part of US procedures and assured that India was engaging with US authorities to ensure deportees were treated with dignity.

Jaishankar also called for stricter action against illegal migration networks while promoting legal travel. “We must crack down on illegal migration while easing visas for genuine travelers. Law enforcement agencies will act against those responsible based on information from deportees,” he added.