New Delhi: Indians shackled on 40-hour deportation flight as U.S. officials restrained around 100 Indian migrants for the entire journey, including during bathroom breaks. The inhumane treatment has ignited fresh outrage against President Donald Trump’s strict immigration policies.
The flight, which departed from the U.S. and landed in Punjab, India, is the longest deportation flight under Trump’s administration to use military aircraft. Migrants were handcuffed and had their ankles chained, with their requests for relief ignored.
“We were treated like criminals,” said Akashdeep Singh, a 23-year-old deportee. “Even when we needed to eat or use the bathroom, they didn’t remove the shackles.”
Protests Erupt in India
The news sparked protests across India. Lawmakers demonstrated outside parliament, some wearing shackles to symbolize the treatment of their fellow citizens. In New Delhi, opposition party members burned an effigy of Trump, condemning his crackdown on migrants.
Punjab Minister S. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal urged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to use his close ties with Trump to intervene. “What’s the point of this friendship if it cannot protect Indian citizens?” his office stated.
Trump’s Harsh Immigration Policies
This incident follows another controversy last month when Colombian deportees were shackled before being flown out of the U.S. Colombian President Gustavo Petro even denied a U.S. deportation plane permission to land.
The U.S. Border Patrol Chief, Michael W. Banks, shared a video on social media showing Indian migrants being led onto the plane with chains around their wrists and ankles. The footage further fueled anger over the treatment of undocumented migrants.
Why Indians Risk the Journey to the U.S.
The U.S. has seen a sharp rise in Indian migrants crossing its borders illegally. In the 2018-19 fiscal year, 8,027 Indian nationals entered the U.S. illegally. By 2022-23, that number had skyrocketed to 96,917.
Many young Indians take the dangerous trek through Latin America, hoping for a better life in the U.S. The lack of job opportunities in India forces them to risk their lives and spend thousands of dollars on illegal travel routes.
“I went for work, for a better future,” said Sukhpal Singh, a 35-year-old deportee. “I have a family to support, and I thought I could find a job in America.”
Global Backlash Against Deportation Tactics
As Trump continues to impose strict immigration policies, global criticism is mounting. With India’s general elections approaching, Modi may come under pressure to address the issue and stand up for Indian migrants facing harsh treatment abroad.
The fate of thousands of undocumented Indian migrants in the U.S. remains uncertain, but this latest controversy has intensified the debate on humane treatment for deportees.
