40-Hour Nightmare of Indian Migrants Deported by US Military
India Condemns US Over Shackling of Deportees as Trump Prepares to Expel 600 More Migrants
The United States’ deportation of 104 Indian nationals aboard a military aircraft, with migrants shackled hand-and-foot during the 40-hour journey, has ignited nationwide outrage in India. The incident, which occurred just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Washington, has strained diplomatic ties, with India formally protesting the “inhumane” treatment of its citizens. Meanwhile, the Trump administration announced plans to deport nearly 600 more Indians, intensifying scrutiny over its aggressive immigration crackdown and the human cost of illegal migration.
The controversy erupted after the US Border Patrol (USBP) released a video on social media platform X, showcasing Indian migrants being marched in chains onto a C-17 military transport plane. Set to dramatic music, the footage depicted deportees shuffling in leg shackles under the watch of armed guards—a scene likened by Indian lawmakers to the treatment of “prisoners of war.” The flight, dubbed a “national security operation” by US authorities, landed in Amritsar on February 5, marking the farthest deportation mission conducted by the US military under President Donald Trump’s renewed immigration agenda.
India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, condemned the use of restraints, calling it “unnecessary” and confirming that New Delhi had raised concerns with Washington. “We have emphasized that such treatment can and should be avoided,” Misri stated, though he acknowledged that the US’s standard operating procedures (SOPs) for deportations—in place since 2012—permit shackling. Notably, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar clarified that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) guidelines stipulate women and children should not be restrained, a claim contradicted by deportees who reported being bound throughout the flight.
The deportees’ testimonies paint a grim picture. Jaspal Singh, a 36-year-old from Punjab, recounted paying ₹30 lakh to an agent who promised legal entry into the US. Instead, he endured a six-month odyssey through South America, crossing jungles and evading armed groups, only to be detained within 11 days of reaching the US-Mexico border. “We were treated like criminals,” he said, describing how shackles left his wrists swollen and made using the toilet nearly impossible during the flight 69. Harwinder Singh, another deportee, detailed a ₹42 lakh journey through seven countries, during which he witnessed migrants drowning and being abandoned to die in Panama’s jungles. “The agents lied. They sold us dreams and delivered nightmares,” he lamented.
The Indian government, while affirming its commitment to repatriate citizens, has shifted focus to dismantling the “ecosystem” enabling illegal migration. Misri described human trafficking networks as the “real cancer,” accusing agents of exploiting vulnerable families with false promises. Over 6,000 Indians were deported during Trump’s first term, but the spectacle of military-led removals has sparked political backlash at home. Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, staged protests outside Parliament, brandishing shackles and demanding accountability. “Couldn’t we have sent our own aircraft to bring them back with dignity?” questioned Priyanka, criticizing Modi’s silence.
The US, however, remains unapologetic. USBP Chief Michael Banks hailed the deportation as a “warning” to potential migrants, asserting, “If you cross illegally, you will be removed.” The Trump administration has increasingly relied on military aircraft for deportations, a tactic previously reserved for volatile regions. While Colombia negotiated the use of its own planes for repatriations, India has yet to pursue similar measures, despite calls from state officials like Punjab’s Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, who urged Modi to “resist Trump’s cruelty”.
With 487 Indians already under final removal orders and 203 detained in recent border sweeps, the total number facing deportation now stands at 586. This figure could rise further, as US authorities estimate nearly 20,000 undocumented Indians are in detention or awaiting expulsion. The Pew Research Center notes India ranks third globally for illegal immigration to the US, with over 725,000 undocumented residents as of 2022. Many undertake the perilous “dunki” route—a term referencing illegal border-hopping—through Latin America, driven by economic despair and agents’ false guarantees.
As Modi prepares to meet Trump next week, the deportations loom over bilateral talks. While India has historically cooperated on immigration enforcement, the public spectacle of shackled citizens has tested diplomatic goodwill. Jaishankar reiterated India’s willingness to accept verified nationals but stressed the need for “preventive action” against trafficking. Meanwhile, the government is drafting the Overseas Mobility (Facilitation and Welfare) Bill, 2024 to safeguard migrants, though critics argue it comes too late for those already ensnared in the crisis.
The ordeal underscores a tragic paradox: migrants risking everything for the American dream, only to return home broken and indebted. For Jaspal Singh, the dream ended in Amritsar, where he stepped off the plane with “nothing but regret.” As the US tightens its borders and India vows crackdowns, the human toll of illegal migration—shackled by greed, desperation, and political posturing—remains painfully unshackled.