Centre downplays US deportee handling.
• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar clarified that deportation of undocumented migrants is not a new development and the use of restraints is a standard operating procedure.
• The Centre will engage with the U.S. government to ensure deportees are not mistreated during their return.
• Jaishankar stated that a total of 15,756 illegal Indian immigrants have been deported to India from the U.S. since 2009.
• He stressed the obligation of all countries to return their nationals if they are found to be living illegally abroad.
• The highest deportation was in 2019, with 2,042 illegal Indian immigrants being sent back to India.
• Jaishankar emphasized the government’s focus on discouraging illegal movement and cracking down on the illegal migration industry.