Horrifying: US Border patrol chief shares video of Indian deportees shackled at wrists, ankles throughout journey | Watch
PTC Web Desk: A United States military aircraft, a C-17 Globemaster, carrying 104 deported Indian nationals, landed at Amritsar Airport on February 5. The deportees, who were allegedly living illegally in the US, were flown back under strict security measures, with their hands and feet restrained. A video shared by US Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks on X (formerly Twitter) revealed the grim condition of the deportees, showing them shackled at the wrists and ankles throughout the journey.
Reports indicate that the deportees were subjected to strict restrictions during the 40-hour-long journey from the United States to India. They were not allowed to move freely, including limited access to washrooms. Some deportees informed the media that when they insisted on using the restroom, crew members escorted them while keeping the door open. Additionally, food was provided in limited quantities, which they were forced to consume with their hands restrained.
The deportation operation was executed by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has been overseeing such removals since 2012. According to ICE protocols, the use of restraints is standard practice for deportations by aircraft, except for women and children. However, reports suggest that women and minors were also among those deported on this flight.
The 104 deportees included 30 from Punjab and 33 each from Haryana and Gujarat. The remaining were from other Indian states. Among them, 48 individuals were below the age of 25, and 13 were minors, including a four-year-old child. Along with the deportees, 11 crew members and 45 US officials accompanied the flight.
Upon landing in Amritsar, Indian immigration and customs officials verified the identities of the deportees before handing them over to the Punjab Police. Many of them were escorted home in police vehicles, while others were transported to their respective states via domestic flights.
Punjab’s NRI Affairs Minister, Kuldeep Dhaliwal, visited Amritsar Airport and met with some of the deported individuals. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the matter with the US government.
As per immigration authorities, the deported individuals will no longer be allowed entry into the United States. Their biometric data has been recorded, and they will be denied visas even if they apply with valid documentation in the future. Additionally, they are barred from travelling to approximately 20 other countries, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, as these nations align their visa policies with US immigration regulations.
- PTC NEWS
