Indian Deportees from US: Government’s Stance on Shackling and Restraints
India’s Concerns on the Treatment of Deportees
The Indian government has voiced serious concerns about the treatment of Indian deportees from the US, specifically the use of shackles on women. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) raised this issue with US authorities after a flight landed on February 5.
US Confirmation on No Restraints for Women and Children
However, the US has confirmed that no women or children were restrained on the deportation flights that arrived in India on February 15 and 16. This information was verified by Indian agencies after interviewing the deportees upon arrival.
ICE Deportation Procedures and Restraint Use
ICE deportation procedures, which follow a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in effect since November 2012, allow for the use of restraints on deportees to ensure security. The US side has stated that the policy of restraints is followed to ensure the safety and security of the mission. Here are some key points:
- Women and minors are generally not shackled
- The flight officer in charge of a deportation flight has the final say on the matter
Number of Indian Nationals Deported from US
Since January 2025, a total of 388 Indian nationals have been deported from the US after verification by Indian authorities. Of these, 333 were sent directly from the US, while 55 were deported via Panama on commercial flights.
Religious Sensitivities and Food Preferences
The government has also raised concerns regarding the need to accommodate the religious sensitivities and food preferences of the deportees. The US side has conveyed to the MEA that detainees on the three deportation flights were not instructed to remove any religious head coverings and that the detainees did not request any religious accommodations during the flights aside from requesting for vegetarian meals.
MEA’s Ongoing Engagement with US Authorities
The MEA continues to engage with US authorities to ensure the humane treatment of deported Indian nationals.
