External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday addressed the deportation of Indian citizens from the U.S., emphasizing that every nation has a fundamental responsibility to repatriate its citizens living illegally abroad.
“All countries must take back their nationals if they are found to be living illegally abroad,” he said in Rajya Sabha.
Jaishankar assured parliamentarians that the Indian government is in contact with U.S. authorities to ensure deportees are treated fairly. He also urged strict action against the illegal immigration industry.
“We are engaging with the US govt to ensure that the deportees not be mistreated in any manner. At the same time, the House will appreciate that our focus should be on the strong crackdown against the illegal immigration industry,” Jaishankar said.
“On the basis of information provided by the deportees, law enforcement agencies will take necessary, preventive and exemplary action against the agents and such agencies,” he added.
The EAM’s statement follows protests by opposition MPs, who called for a parliamentary discussion on the recent deportation of over 100 Indian nationals from the U.S.
Several members, including Amritsar MP Gurujit Singh Aujla, joined the protest, wearing handcuffs as a symbolic gesture.
A U.S. military aircraft carrying over 100 Indian citizens, reportedly involved in illegal migration to the U.S., arrived in Amritsar on Wednesday. Among them, 33 were from Haryana and Gujarat, 30 from Punjab, three each from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, and two from Chandigarh.
