Outcry in India Over Shackled Deportation of Illegal Migrants from the US

INIndia|

India is facing significant backlash after a video surfaced showing the US Border Patrol deporting 104 Indian migrants while shackled and handcuffed. The footage, shared by USBP Chief Michael W. Banks, depicted the migrants being loaded onto a military transport plane under distressing circumstances. Banks claimed this represented the "farthest deportation flight yet" and served as a warning against illegal crossings into the United States.

The migrants, many from Punjab, recounted harrowing experiences of paying agents large sums of money for illegal passage to the US, only to face perilous treks through South America. Jaspal Singh, one deported individual, stated he paid around ₹30 lakh (approximately $36,000) for a failed journey that exposed him to life-threatening situations.

In response to the government's handling of the deportations, opposition leaders, including Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, criticized the inhumane treatment and demanded a parliamentary discussion. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to make a statement on the issue. Sources indicate the Indian government is considering a new law aimed at ensuring migrants' safety.

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