NEW DELHI, Feb 6: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, on Thursday, informed the Rajya Sabha that the government is investigating how 104 Indian nationals were able to illegally enter the United States. Jaishankar emphasized the government’s commitment to tackling illegal immigration networks and ensuring similar incidents do not occur in the future.

The Minister stated that authorities had been instructed to meet with each of the returnees to understand how they reached the US, who facilitated their entry, and what precautions could be taken to prevent such cases. He highlighted that illegal migration to the US is not a new issue and has been ongoing for some time. “We know that 104 people returned yesterday. We verified their nationality. Let’s not treat this as a new issue—this has been happening for some time,” he said.

The statement came amidst opposition protests in Parliament over the treatment of the deportees. Jaishankar addressed the concerns, reassuring Parliament that the Indian government was actively engaging with US authorities to ensure that deportees were not mistreated during the repatriation process. He also reiterated that the Indian government was prioritizing efforts to clamp down on illegal immigration networks within India.

Jaishankar further clarified that deportation and repatriation of nationals living illegally abroad are international norms. He emphasized that it is the obligation of every country to repatriate its citizens if found to be illegally residing in another nation.

Regarding the deportation process, Jaishankar confirmed that the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) follows a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for deportations, which includes the use of restraints. He noted that women and children are exempt from this protocol. “The SOP, effective since 2012, includes the use of restraints. We have been informed by ICE that women and children are not restrained,” Jaishankar said. He also made it clear that the handcuffing of deportees is a part of US policy and is not specific to Indian nationals.

The deportation of 104 Indian nationals by the US, using a military aircraft, has drawn significant attention. This was the first instance of the US employing military transport for deportations to India. Upon their arrival in Amritsar, Punjab, the deportees underwent thorough scrutiny by government agencies before being allowed to continue to their hometowns. The treatment of the deportees, particularly reports that all except children were handcuffed during the flight, has sparked protests in the Indian Parliament, with many lawmakers expressing concerns over the alleged mistreatment of Indian citizens.

Jaishankar emphasized the importance of legal migration between India and the United States, noting that people-to-people exchanges are crucial to the bilateral relationship. He reiterated the need for encouraging legal migration while discouraging illegal immigration. “It is in our collective interest to encourage legal mobility and discourage illegal movement,” he said.