487 Illegal Indian immigrants face final removal orders from US, confirms Foreign Ministry

The Foreign Ministry has confirmed that 487 individuals presumed to be Indian citizens are subject to final removal orders from the US.

India has highlighted its concerns on the deportation issues with the US, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said while addressing the media.

He alleged that there are no records of the government protesting the deportation of Indians in shackles in 2012 and assured that the government will flag issues of mistreatment of illegal migrants deported to India and will continue to do so.

While speaking on the deportation of illegal Indian immigrants from the US, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, “The description by the EAM (External Affairs Ministry) of the standard operating procedure relating to the use of restraints which has been communicated to us by US authorities including the immigration and customs enforcement. EAM attracted attention to the fact that these have been in practice for a long period of time.”

Over the concerns of mistreatment, Misri said, “It is a valid issue to raise, and we continue to emphasise to US authorities that there should be no mistreatment of deportees...We will continue to take up any instances of mistreatment that come to our attention. Action needs to be taken across the system against the underlying ecosystem that thrives on promoting illegal immigration.”

Additionally, the authorities have received details about 198 people a short while back, he added.

'Real cancer is gangs working to send people illegally': India to take up deportation issue with US

“What is cancer? The real cancer is the ecosystem of promoting illegal migration, especially the gangs that convince innocent people in exchange for huge sums and take them abroad. There is an urgent need to take action towards such people,” the Foreign Secretary said.

The deportation of illegal migrants from the United States has resulted in political debate in India. The opposition has raised questions about the Central government's lack of response on the mistreatment of Indian citizens being deported from the US, who were allegedly handcuffed and treated inhumanely.