Congress Demands Discussion in LS on Dignified Treatment for Deportees from US
Click to start listening
Synopsis
The Congress party has initiated adjournment motions in the Lok Sabha, pressing for an urgent conversation concerning the deportation of over 100 illegal Indian immigrants by the United States. The party urges the Centre to clarify its position and detail diplomatic efforts to ensure these individuals are treated with dignity.
Key Takeaways
- Congress seeks urgent discussion about deported Indians.
- Over 100 illegal immigrants sent back by the US.
- Deportees faced inhumane treatment during repatriation.
- Need for strong policies against illegal migration.
- Highlighting the contribution of deportees to the US economy.
New Delhi, Feb 6 (NationPress) The Congress party submitted adjournment motions in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, calling for an immediate discussion regarding the deportation of over 100 illegal Indian immigrants by the United States (US). They urged the Centre to clarify its position and detail the diplomatic actions being undertaken to ensure the dignified treatment of deported individuals.
The Indian nationals deported from the US on Wednesday claimed they were returned on a military aircraft, with their hands and legs cuffed throughout the flight.
Congress MPs KC Venugopal, Gaurav Gogoi, and Manickam Tagore moved the motions, highlighting the necessity to "urgently address the issue to prevent further dehumanisation" and to "uphold the dignity" of the deported individuals.
In his motion, Venugopal emphasized the need for a discussion on the "ongoing abrupt deportations of illegal Indian immigrants by the US government."
The motion called for the Centre to clarify its position and outline diplomatic measures being taken to guarantee the dignified treatment of deportees.
"This crisis highlights the need for robust policies to combat illegal migration and establish structured legal pathways for those seeking employment abroad.
"There is an urgent requirement for intervention to dismantle human trafficking networks, provide financial and social reintegration support to deportees, and develop transparent migration frameworks to protect Indians from such situations in the future," Venugopal added.
Deputy Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, also submitted an adjournment motion, characterizing the deportations as "deeply distressing and humiliating."
Similarly, Congress whip Manickam Tagore called for a discussion on the "inhumane deportation of Indian nationals by the United States" and urged the government to take necessary actions to prevent mistreatment abroad.
This development followed the arrival of a US military aircraft carrying 104 illegal Indian immigrants in Amritsar on Wednesday.
The deportees included 33 individuals each from Haryana and Gujarat, 30 from Punjab, three each from Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, and two from Chandigarh. Among them were 25 women and 12 minors, the youngest being just four years old.
The US military C-17 aircraft, which departed from Texas on Tuesday, landed at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport under tight security. The flight also included 11 crew members and 45 US officials supervising the deportation process.
This incident marks the initial phase of deportations under the Trump administration, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's impending visit to Washington next week — his first since Donald Trump's re-election.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar previously stated that India is amenable to the "legitimate return" of Indian nationals residing illegally abroad, including in the US.
He communicated India's readiness to accept these migrants post-verification to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last month.
President Trump recently announced the crackdown, asserting, "For the first time in history, we are locating and loading illegal aliens into military aircraft and returning them to their countries of origin."
Meanwhile, Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal expressed dissatisfaction over the deportations, arguing that many of these individuals had contributed to the US economy and deserved permanent residency instead of being sent back.
According to the Pew Research Center, around 725,000 illegal immigrants from India reside in the US, making it the third-largest population of unauthorized immigrants after Mexico and El Salvador.
Many individuals facing deportation from Punjab entered the US through illegal channels, spending large sums of money in the process.
With Trump's administration escalating its crackdown on illegal immigration, uncertainty hangs over the future of thousands of Indians living without legal status in the US.
