Prime Minister Narendra Modi is most likely to meet US President Donald Trump on February 12 in Washington and discuss bilateral issues. Will he raise the issue of the way Indian illegal migrants were deported in a military aeroplane with their hands cuffed and feet chained?

People were enraged and the Union government came under scathing attacks of the Opposition after a Globemaster C-17 plane of the US Airforce landed at Amritsar air base with 104 Indians.

When the people came out of the plane, they were not handcuffed. However, they complained that their hands were cuffed and feet chained before being put on the plane and they were unshackled just before being deboarded.

Hands Cuffed, Feet Chained For 40 Hours!

They also complained that they remained shackled for 40 hours as the plane made many stopovers for fueling and other purposes.

The deported immigrants also claimed that their request for removing the handcuffs for taking meals was turned down, feet were not unshackled when they wanted to use the washrooms.

They said that they somehow dragged themselves to washrooms and the military personnel accompanying them on the flight shoved them inside.

What Did Jaishankar Say?

Explaining the government’s stand on the emotive issue, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said in parliament that the government is working with the US to ensure Indian citizens are not mistreated when they are deported.

He also informed the parliament that the US immigration authorities told him that the women and children were not restrained while being deported.

Also Read: Will US Expel Lakhs of Indians? Modi-Trump Meeting This Month Holds Answer!

Jaishankar also admitted that the deportation had been taking place for years and the US authorities have the right to restrict the migrants when they are deported.

Restraining the migrants while being deported has become an emotive issue across the world and Washington has been severely criticised by many countries.

Colombia Denies Landing Rights To US Air Force

Colombian President Gustavo Pedro refused to allow the US Air Force aeroplane to land on the soil of his country, accusing Washington of treating the migrants like criminals.

He later sent two planes to the US to bring his countrymen back with respect and dignity.

Mexico Vows To Defend Sovereignty

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also slammed the US for the way it deports illegal migrants and declared that she would defend her country’s sovereignty.

When the US deported Brazilian immigrants, the pictures showing these people handcuffed went viral and Washington was criticised.

Washington has also deported the illegal migrants coming from the Central American countries of Peru, Ecuador, Guatemala and Honduras.

The process of deportation using military aircraft has been questioned by many people, also because it is much more expensive.

Why Does US Use Military Plane?

When the US Air Force deported Guatemalans, it spent $4,675 on each migrant. It was much more expensive compared to $853 for a one-side first-class fare on American Airlines.

Then Executive Director of Immigration Customs Enforcement, Tie Johnson, said in 2023 that the department spent $17,000 on each migrant for a 5 hour flight.

He also said that if Globemaster C-17 is used for deporting migrants, the department has to spend $28,500 per hour on the flight.

Analysts believe the US uses military planes for deporting illegal migrants to send strong signals.

It wants to prove to the domestic population as well as foreign governments that Washington shows no mercy to illegal migrants and takes military action.

India Treads Cautiously

Analysts believe India responded with extreme caution on this issue for obvious reasons.

When PM Narendra Modi meets Donald Trump, the focus of the talks will be on tariffs.

Experts point out that Donald Trump is a pragmatic politician, who believes more in realpolitik and ground realities than symbolism and values.

India needs to accept that its relations with the US will be transactional, Washington will bargain hard and extract the maximum it can take from India.

While meeting Trump under this background, India shouldn’t embarrass him and come hard on the issue, which has only emotive and symbolic values. It may irritate the US President and the talks may get derailed.

This is the reason Jaishankar has downplayed the issue and admitted that Washington has the right to deport illegal migrants.

It is true that 1,100 Indians were deported last year when Joe Biden was the president. The matter did not stir emotions as civilian planes were used and the people on board were not handcuffed.

It is also a fact that Washington deported 32 lakh illegal migrants when Barrack Obama was the US President.

PM Modi may not raise the issue strongly also because more than 20,000 Indians have been identified as illegal migrants by the ICE authorities. They are waiting for deportation.

Analysts believe, as too much hullabaloo has been generated in India, the US may not handcuff the migrants while deporting them next time.