Official On Row Over Handcuffed US Deportees: 'Standard Safety Protocol...They've Broken Law'

Last Updated:February 06, 2025, 14:05 IST

As per the official, the immigrants were brought in handcuffs to ensure there is no scuffle between them and US officials on the flight

United States deported 104 illegal Indian migrants who were sent back to the country in handcuffs. (Courtesy: X)

Hours after 104 illegal Indian migrants from different states were brought to India in a US military aircraft on Wednesday, an official who had dealt with similar matters before spoke on condition of anonymity and explained the reason why the deportees were handcuffed on their return journey.

The official said that the immigrants were handcuffed to ensure everyone’s safety on the flight and avoid any kind of scuffle and altercation between the US officials and deportees.

He added that it is a standard protocol to ensure onboard safety on the flight and that illegal immigrants have always been sent following a similar protocol.

Meanwhile, a US Embassy spokesperson said that enforcing the immigration laws of the country is critically important for the national security and public safety of the United States.

The spokesperson said that it is the policy of the United States to faithfully execute the immigration laws against all inadmissible and removable aliens.

USBP Shares Video Of Deportees Boarding Flight Amid Uproar Over Handcuffs

Hours before, United States Customs and Border Protection Chief Michael W. Banks shared a video of the deportation of 104 Indians who had entered the foreign country illegally.

This was the first batch of illegal Indian immigrants who had been deported after a crackdown by the Donald Trump-led government.

Among the immigrants, 33 each hailed from Gujarat and Haryana, 30 were from Punjab, three each belonged to Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra and two were from Chandigarh. Among the 104 deportees, 19 were women and 13 were minors.

Inside the airport terminal building, various government agencies like the Punjab Police and the state and central intelligence agencies questioned the deportees and checked if they had any criminal records.

Trump’s Stance On Illegal Immigrants

The action against the illegal immigrants has been taken just days before the scheduled visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington DC where he will hold wide-ranging talks with President Donald Trump.

Trump had been vocal about his anti-immigrant plans during his presidential campaign and had reiterated that the country would send back all illegal immigrants after he came to power in January 2025.

“All illegal entry will be immediately halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of illegal aliens back to the places from which they came," said Trump, in his inauguration speech.

However, the deportation of Indians caused an uproar in the country after reports emerged of their hands and feet being cuffed when they were brought back.

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

News world Official On Row Over Handcuffed US Deportees: 'Standard Safety Protocol...They've Broken Law'