'487 presumed Indian citizens with final removal orders': MEA amid US deportation row

The announcement comes in the wake of a political row over 104 Indian migrants who were sent back to India, chained and handcuffed, on a C-17 US military aircraft on Wednesday.

"We've been told there are 487 presumed Indian citizens with final removal orders," Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said.

A US military aircraft carrying the migrants landed in Amritsar, marking the first mass deportation under President Donald Trump's administration.

The deportees, who had attempted to enter the United States through illegal routes, were piled up in an aircraft and were reportedly shackled and restrained throughout the flight, only to be freed upon arrival in India.

"Their legal position and status insofar as the US justice system is concerned, we have some information on the number of immigrants concerned. We are working with such numbers made available to us," Misri said.

On the US using military aircraft to deport Indians, the Foreign Secretary said: "This particular deportation is somewhat different compared to earlier flights. In the US system itself, it was described as a national security operation."

The deportation, and the way it was carried out, became a political flashpoint with the Opposition asking why the Centre did not intervene to bring them back on its terms.

The Centre defended its position by citing international obligations.

However, Opposition leaders pointed out that the Indian government had previously arranged special flights to evacuate its citizens from crisis zones.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said the government is engaging with the United States to ensure no Indian deportee is mistreated during the travel.

"Deportations by the US are organised and executed by the immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) authorities. The Standard Operating Procedure for deportation by aircraft used by ICE i.e. effective from 2012 provides for the use of restraints. However, we have been informed by ICE that women and children are not restrained," he had said

"Further, the needs of deportees during transit related to food and other necessities including possible medical emergencies are attended too. During toilet breaks, deportees have temporarily unrestrained if needed in that regard. This is applicable to chartered civilian aircraft as well as military aircraft. There has been no change from past procedure for the flight undertaken by the US on 5 February 2025."

"We are of course engaging the US government to ensure that the returning deportees are not mistreated in any manner during the flight. At the same time, the House will appreciate that our focus should be on a strong crackdown on illegal migration," Jaishankar had said in the Rajya Sabha.

"On the basis of information provided by returning deportees about the agents and others involved, law enforcement agencies will take necessary preventive and exemplary actions," he had added.

Amid the outrage, the US Border Patrol shared a video on X that showed deportees being led into the plane to bring them back.

Posting a 24-second video on X, USBP Chief Michael W Banks posted: "... successfully returned illegal aliens to India, marking the farthest deportation flight yet using military transport. This mission underscores our commitment to enforcing immigration laws..."

A 'warning' accompanied the post: "If you cross illegally, you will be removed".