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Use of restraints on deportees "standard procedure” says Foreign Minister Jaishankar
‘There has been no change on flight deportation procedure’, Jaishankar said.
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(L) external affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addresses the house on Feb. 6. / Sansad TV/ Screengrab
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that the use of restraints on deportees is in accordance with the standard operating procedure of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authority.
The minister’s statements come after an uproar created in parliament over reports that the 104 Indian citizens deported by the United States on Feb. 5 were handcuffed with their feet in chains during the long flight to Amritsar. Opposition MPs said the move to handcuff and restrain the deportees was inhumane and an insult to the country.
"The deportation by the US are organised and executed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE) authority. The SOP of deportation by aircraft used by ICE which is effective from 2012 provides for the use of restraints,”Jaishankar told the Rajya Sabha on Feb. 6
“We have been informed by ICE that women and children are not restrained,” the minister clarified, adding that the process of deportation is not new one and there has been no change in deportation procedure since 2012. “Needs of deportees during transit related to foods, and other necessities are attended to. During toilet breaks, deportees are temporarily unrestrained if needed,” the minister said.
"This is applicable to chartered civilian aircraft as well as military aircraft. There has been no change, I repeat, no change from past procedure for the flight undertaken by the US on 5 February 2025," he clarified.
Citing prior cases of Indian nationals being deported from the United States since 2009, Jaishankar further said, “The House should understand that our focus must be on a strong crackdown on the illegal migration industry." He ensured that the government will obtain information from the deportees and start taking preventative steps to crack down on agents who illegally traffic migrants to other nations.
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