Amid the deportation row, the US embassy said that it is the policy of the United States to “faithfully execute the immigration laws against all inadmissible and removable aliens”.
“Enforcing our Nation’s immigration laws is critically important to the national security and public safety of the United States. It is the policy of the United States to faithfully execute the immigration laws against all inadmissible and removable aliens,” the US embassy said.
External Affairs Minister and BJP leader S Jaishankar on Thursday said in the Rajya Sabha that the Centre is working closely with the Donald Trump-led US government to ensure that deportees are not mistreated in any manner, adding that it is the obligation of all countries to take back their nationals if they are found to be living illegally abroad.
A US military aircraft carrying 104 illegal immigrants from various states landed in Amritsar on Wednesday, the first such batch of Indians deported by the Donald Trump government as part of a crackdown against illegal immigrants. One of the deportees claimed that they were handcuffed and legs were chained throughout the journey and those were taken off only after landing at the Amritsar airport.
Speaking in Rajya Sabha, S Jaishankar said, “I rise to apprise the House of certain developments pertaining to the deportation of Indians from the USA. Members are aware that people-to-people exchanges constitute the bedrock of our deepening ties with the United States. Indeed, more than in any other relationship, mobility and migration have played a key role in enhancing its quality.”
“The House would also share the government’s view that it is in our collective interest to encourage legal mobility and discourage illegal movement. In fact, illegal mobility and migration are often linked to other unlawful activities. Moreover, our citizens who are inveigled into illegal movement often become victims of other crimes,” he added.
“Chairman Sir, 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 practiced by India. It is a general accepted principle in international relations,” the EAM said.
“We are engaging the US govt to ensure that the deportees not be mistreated in any manner. At the same time, the House will appreciate that our focus should be on the strong crackdown against the illegal immigration industry. On the basis of information provided by the deportees, law enforcement agencies will take necessary, preventive and exemplary action against the agents and such agencies,” S Jaishankar said.
“The deportation by the US are organised and executed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE) authority. The SOP of deportation by aircraft used by ICE which is effective from 2012 provides for the use of restraint. We have been informed by ICE that women and children are not restrained,” he said.
Over question of military aircraft being used to send the deportees, S Jaishankar said that it is upto the authority of immigration, customs to charter aircraft. “Whichever aircraft comes in is under ICE authority,” says S Jaishankar.
Indian opposition leaders have demanded a discussion in Parliament over what they said was ill-treatment of 104 Indian immigrants deported by the US.