Engaging US to ensure Indian citizens are not mistreated: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said it is the duty of all countries to take back their citizens if found to be living there illegally and said the government is speaking to the US government to ensure the deportees are not mistreated in any way.

In the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Jaishankar said the US deportations are done by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the standard operating procedure for deportation by aircraft used by ICE is in place since 2013. He said there has been no change from past procedures for the flight on February 5.

Jaishankar said, "US deportations are done by ICE authorities. The standard operating procedure for deportation by aircraft used by ICE is since 2012. I repeat, since 2012 and provides for restraints. But we have been told by ICE that women and children are not restrained. Further, the needs of deportees including during transit, related to food and other necessities, including possible medical emergencies are attended to. During toilet breaks, deportees are temporarily unrestrained if needed in that regard."

"This is applicable to chartered civilian aircraft as well as military aircraft. There has been no change, I repeat, no change from past procedures for the flight on 5 February 2025. We are talking to US government to ensure the deportees are not mistreated in any way during the flight. At the same time, the House will appreciate that our focus should be on cracking down, strong cracking down on the migration industry while ease of visas for the honest traveller. On the basis of information provided by returning deportees about the agents and others involved, law enforcement agencies will take necessary preventive and exemplary action," he added.

The US Air Force plane carrying Indian citizens who allegedly migrated to the US illegally landed in Amritsar on Wednesday. 104 Indians were on the plane that landed in Amritsar.

He called people-to-people exchanges "bedrock" of the deepening ties between India and US. He said mobility and migration has a key role to play in enhancing its quality. He noted that illegal mobility and migration has many other associated activities also of illegal nature.

Jaishankar said, "Members are aware that people-to-people exchanges constitute the bedrock of our deepening ties with the United States. Indeed, more than any other relationship, mobility and migration has had a key role to play in enhancing its quality. The house would also share the view of the government that it is in our collective interest to encourage legal mobility and discourage illegal movement. Infact, illegal mobility and migration has many other associated activities also of an illegal nature. Moreover, crores of our citizens who have been invaguled into illegal movement, themselves become prey to other crimes, they are trapped into both moving and working under inhuman conditions. Members are aware that unfortunately there have even been fatalities in the course of such illegal migration. Those who have returned have also testified to their harrowing experiences."

He said nations have to take back their nationals if they are found to be living abroad illegally, “It is the obligation of all countries to take back their nationals if they are found to be living illegally abroad. This is naturally subject to an unambiguous verification of their nationality. This is not a policy applicable to any specific country nor indeed one only practised by India. It is a general principle in international relations.”

Explaining the process of deportation since 2009, EAM Jaishankar said, “Members would be aware that the process of deportation is not a new one, I repeat not a new one, and has been going on for several years. I will share with the House the details of deportation from the United States since 2009. Their numbers year wise as available with our law enforcement agencies is as below. 2009, 734, 2010, 799 2011, 597. 2012, 530, 2013, 515, 2014, 591, 2015, 708, 2016, 1303, 2017, 1024, 2018, 1180, 2019, 2042, 2020, 1889, 2021, 805, 2022, 862, 2023, 617, 2024, 1368, 2025, 104.”

Earlier in the day, a US Embassy spokesperson said while specific details can’t be shared, the United States is enforcing its border and immigration laws. The spokesperson said the actions taken send a “clear message that illegal migration is not worth the risk.”

“I have received several queries on the report of a deportation flight to India. I can’t share any details on those queries but I can share on record that the United States is enforcing its border, tightening immigration laws and removing illegal migrants. These actions send a clear message: illegal migration is not worth the risk,” a US Embassy spokesperson said.