India reported 18,822 nationals deported from the US since 2009, with 3,258 in 2025, as Jaishankar flagged concerns over deportee treatment
New Delhi
The United States has deported a total of 18,822 Indian nationals since 2009, including 3,258 individuals so far in 2025, the Union government informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, while responding to supplementaries, noted that 617 Indians were deported in 2023 and 1,368 in 2024. Of those deported in 2025, 2,032 (around 62.3%) returned on regular commercial flights, while 1,226 (37.6%) arrived on chartered flights operated by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Jaishankar highlighted that the Ministry of External Affairs has consistently raised concerns with US authorities regarding the treatment of deportees, especially the use of shackles, with heightened concern for women and children. He also pointed out the role of state governments and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in addressing human trafficking, noting that Punjab accounts for the highest number of such cases.
The NIA, which has an anti-human trafficking division, has registered 27 cases, leading to 169 arrests and chargesheets against 132 individuals. Significant arrests include key traffickers in Haryana and Punjab on August 7, and in Himachal Pradesh on October 2. Jaishankar emphasized the government’s commitment to tackling human trafficking and ensuring the welfare of deported citizens.
Circle
EAM said no instance of shackling of women and children has been brought to the notice of this Ministry since the 5th February deportation flight
The Harjit Kaur case
Regarding the case of Harjit Kaur, a 73-year-old Punjabi woman, who was deported in September this year, Jaishankar denied that she was handcuffed, but said she was rather mistreated during her detention. Jaishankar said her matter was raised by them with the US authorities.
“Whenever any flight with deportees comes, the deportees are invariably interviewed by the officials of the Government of India. In this case, our immigration officers have confirmed that she was not handcuffed. We have seen reports related to this.”
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“They have also conveyed that their policy of shackling deportees is followed to ensure the safety and security of all passengers on these flights. In the past, they claim that there have been instances of violence by deportees against fellow deportees and supporting crew members on such deportation flights.”