More illegal immigrants from India to be deported soon? MEA says 487 Indians on final removal list
The 487 presumed Indians on the final removal list are in addition to the 104 illegal immigrants who were deported by the US earlier this week. The ones who have been deported were caught in the past few weeks near the US border with Mexico while attempting to cross over.
As the Donald Trump administration continues with the 'largest deportation operation in US history', more Indian nationals who entered American soil illegally could be sent back soon. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said around 500 more illegal immigrants, who are thought to be Indians, have been served final removal notices.
487 presumed Indians on removal list
"In recent conversations, when we have sought details about potential returnees from the United States, we have been told that there are up to 487 presumed Indian citizens with final removal orders with the US authorities," Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said.
CREDIT: AP
According to Misri, India has sought details from the US authorities about 298 individuals on the removal list.
"We received this a short while ago. We are checking on this and will revert to our US counterparts on these issues. About the others, we have not been provided details," he said.
104 illegal immigrants from India deported
The 487 presumed Indians on the final removal list are in addition to the 104 illegal immigrants who were deported by the US earlier this week. Unlike those on the removal list, the ones who have been deported were caught in the past few weeks near the US border with Mexico while attempting to cross over.
CREDIT: REUTERS
Controversy over military aircraft for deportation
The deportation flight that landed at Amritsar Airport on Wednesday had made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Many had questioned the use of military aircraft for deportation and condemned the mistreatment of the deportees on the flight.
Misri acknowledged that the deportation flight was of a 'somewhat different nature' than previous ones.
"The deportation that happened the day before yesterday is somewhat different compared to flights that have been taking place for many years and is of a slightly different nature," he said.
CREDIT: AP
On the issue of the deportees being shackled, Misri said India has registered concerns with the US and conveyed that this kind of treatment could have been avoided.
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Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
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