Nearly 600 Indians on US ‘removal’ list: MEA
US to deport nearly 600 illegal Indian migrants amid concerns over mistreatment, including shackling during repatriation flights, say Indian officials.
The United States is in the process of sending back close to 600 more illegal migrants to India, even as Indian authorities on Friday said that New Delhi has conveyed its concerns to Washington at the treatment of deportees after images of people in shackles repatriated on a military flight triggered a nationwide outcry.
While the US informed the Indian side some time ago that 487 “presumed Indian citizens” were served with final removal orders, another 203 illegal migrants were rounded up in sweeps by American authorities, mostly along the border with Mexico, last month, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity.
Of the 203 detained recently, 104 were sent back on a C-17 military aircraft that landed in Amritsar on Wednesday. Of the 99 that remain from this group, the Indian side has verified the nationality of 96 more individuals and they are expected to be deported in the coming days, the people said. When added to the 487 already served with the final removal order, the tally of people now in the process to being sent back climbs to 586.
Foreign secretary Vikram Misri, who faced a volley of questions at a media briefing on this week’s deportation flight and the treatment of deportees, including the shackling of both men and women, said that the US authorities had informed India about people served with the final removal orders. “In recent conversations, when we sought details about potential returnees from the US, we have been told that there are up to 487 presumed Indian citizens with final removal orders with the US authorities,” he said.