MEA ‘Strongly Registered Concerns’ With US Over Shackling of Indian Deportees, Sought Humane Treatment: MoS
India has raised strong concerns with the US over the treatment of deportees, especially the use of shackles on women. The MEA continues diplomatic efforts to ensure humane repatriation procedures.
India has "strongly registered" its concern to the US authorities regarding the treatment of deportees, particularly the use of shackles, especially on women, during a repatriation flight on February 5. This was conveyed by the government in Parliament on Friday.
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written response to a Lok Sabha query, stated that "the US side has conveyed" to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) that on the three deportation flights—February 5, 15, and 16—"detainees were not instructed to remove any religious head coverings and that the detainees did not request any religious accommodations during the flights aside from requesting for vegetarian meals."
US Assures Compliance with Religious and Dietary Preferences
The MEA reiterated that it had also raised concerns about ensuring the religious sensitivities and dietary preferences of the deportees were accommodated. The government was responding to a query on whether it had taken note of reports regarding the shackling of Indian deportees during repatriation by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Additionally, it was asked if India had formally lodged diplomatic objections concerning the treatment of its deported nationals.
Further, the MEA was questioned on whether the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for deportation via aircraft, in place since 2012, permits the use of restraints and whether India has sought modifications to these procedures for its citizens.
Singh stated that the MEA remains in dialogue with the US to ensure that deportees are treated humanely during repatriation. "The ministry has strongly registered its concerns with the US authorities on the treatment meted out to deportees on the flight that landed on 5th February, 2025 particularly with respect to use of shackles, especially on women," he said.
On February 5, a group of 104 Indian nationals who had entered the US illegally were deported in a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft that landed at Amritsar airport in Punjab. This marked the first such deportation under the Donald Trump administration’s intensified crackdown on illegal immigration. The manner in which these deportees were treated sparked widespread controversy and debate across India.
Subsequently, two more groups of Indian nationals were deported on February 15 and 16.
MEA Engages with US for Humane Treatment of Deportees
Earlier, on February 6, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had assured the Rajya Sabha that the government was actively engaging with the US to ensure humane treatment of deported Indians. He also emphasized the need for a stringent crackdown on illegal migration networks.
Additionally, the MEA was asked in the Lok Sabha whether it had received any complaints from deportees regarding mistreatment during repatriation and, if so, what actions had been taken in response.
Singh explained that "the US Standard Operating Procedure to organise and execute deportations effective from November 2012 calls for the use of restraints on deportees. The US authorities have conveyed that restraints are applied to ensure the safety and security of the mission. While women and minors are generally not shackled, the flight officer in charge of a deportation flight has the final say on the matter."
Furthermore, Singh clarified that "the US side has confirmed that no women or children were restrained on the deportation flights that landed in India on 15th and 16th February, 2025 respectively. This has also been confirmed and recorded by our agencies after interviewing the deportees on their arrival in India."
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