'This is the responsibility of every country's government', what did Jaishankar say about Indians deported from America?

For the first time, the Indian government has officially informed about sending 104 Indians living illegally in the US by a US military plane.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that the process of deportation from the US is not new, but under this, 15,668 Indians have been sent to India since 2009. It is the responsibility of every country's government to take back its citizens living illegally abroad. The Indian government is talking to the US government to ensure that the deported people are not mistreated on the flight.

Many questions were not answered.

He also assured that the country's agencies will take action against the agents sending people abroad illegally and the people helping them. This statement of Jaishankar clarifies the government's position, but despite this, many questions have not been answered.

Many questions were raised by the opposition regarding this episode, on which Jaishankar did not say anything. Also, there has been no response from the Indian government on the video posted on social media by US Border Police Chief Michael W Banks of Indians being taken to the plane with handcuffs and shackles on their feet.

It was also not clarified whether the Indian government, like the governments of Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, has also protested against sending its citizens in this manner. He also did not say anything about whether PM Narendra Modi will raise this issue in his possible US visit next week.

External Affairs Minister put forth his point of view.

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar said, 'It is in our collective interest to encourage legal movement and prevent illegal migration. Our citizens who are involved in illegal movements themselves become victims of many types of crimes. In this process, they become victims of many inhuman conditions. If they are found living illegally, then it becomes the moral responsibility of all countries to take back their citizens. This is a common principle in international relations.'

The Foreign Minister also gave the record of deportation of illegal Indians from America since the year 2009. According to this, the highest number of deportees have been deported in the year 2019 (2042) and the year 2020 (1889). The procedure for deportation was decided in the year 2012 by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Reason for handcuffing

Under this, there is a system to keep the deported persons under control (in handcuffs and shackles). Women and children have been kept out of the definition of this control. There is a similar procedure for deportation by a US military ship or US chartered plane.

The US military plane that landed at Amritsar airport on 04 February 2025 with 104 Indians also followed the above procedure. Jaishankar said, 'We are talking to the US government so that there is no mistreatment of the deported people in the flight. At the same time, our focus should be on cracking down on illegal migration while making visas easier for legitimate travel.

The foreign minister was asked if diplomatic assistance was given to the deported Indians. He replied, "It was given to those who asked for it. In many cases, it was not asked for. But in every case, we ensured that they were Indians. Government officials are meeting these people after their return."