US deportees were not asked to remove religious head coverings; 295 more set to be deported: Govt in Lok Sabha

The MEA has also said that at least 295 more Indian nationals were set for deportation from the US.

In a written response to a query by Lok Sabha MP Raja Ram Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said the MEA had registered its strong concerns regarding the need to accommodate the religious sensitivities and food preferences of the deportees.

“The US side has conveyed to the Ministry of External Affairs that detainees on the three deportation flights (that landed on 5th, 15th and 16th February) 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 vegetarian meals,” the reply said.

Since Donald Trump became US President this year, 388 Indians have been deported from the US, mostly in February. Of the 388, at least 153 are from Punjab.

The minister also said India has “strongly registered” its concerns with US authorities on the treatment of the deportees who arrived on February 5 — “particularly with respect to use of shackles, especially on women”. The first batch of deportees, including women, had landed in India with shackles, sparking an uproar in the country.

Singh said no women or children were restrained on the next two deportation flights.

The reply stated: “The US Standard Operating Procedure to organise and execute deportations effective from November 2012 calls for the use of restraints on deportees. The US authorities have conveyed that restraints are applied to ensure the safety and security of the mission. While women and minors are generally not shackled, the flight officer in charge of a deportation flight has the final say on the matter.”

To a query by MP Kathir Anand, the ministry said at least 295 more Indian nationals were set to be deported from the US. “The Ministry of External Affairs, along with other concerned agencies, is currently verifying the details of these 295 individuals,” the reply said.

Since Donald Trump became US President this year, 388 Indians have been deported from the US, mostly in February. Of the 388, at least 153 are from Punjab.

The MEA further said: “From January 2025 till date, a total of 388 deportees arrived in India from the US. Of these, a total of 333 Indian nationals arrived in Amritsar from the US on three deportation flights that landed on 5th, 15th and 16th February 2025 respectively. Separately, 55 Indian deportees arrived in New Delhi from the US via Panama on commercial flights.”

Fresh deportations under “White House’s larger National Security Initiative”

Replying to a query by Congress leader Manish Tewari, the MEA said that the deportations this year are part of larger “National Security Initiative” of the White House, adding that under this process, the deportees are placed for “expedited removal”.

The ministry said: “Since January 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection (CBP) vertical has been carrying out deportation operations as part of the larger “National Security initiative” led by the U.S. White House – National Security Council (NSC). The individuals that have been deported in this operation were placed under “expedited removal” process, wherein a determination of inadmissibility can be made by the immigration officer without having to go through an immigration judge in the US.”

On the criteria being adopted by the US for deporting the individuals, the MEA replied: “The U.S. is deporting only those Indian nationals who have been apprehended for violating the U.S. immigration laws. Illegal mobility and migration has many other associated activities, also of an illegal nature. Moreover, those of our nationals who have been enticed into illegal migration have themselves become prey to other crimes. Those who have recently returned have testified to their harrowing experiences. The Government of India is focused on identifying and taking strong action against the illegal immigration agents, the migration rackets and the entire criminal ecosystem, on which such illegal immigration thrives.”

Why Amritsar airport chosen for landing, asks Harsimrat Badal

On a query by Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on why Punjab’s Amritsar airport was chosen for the landings, the minister said: “US aircraft ferrying deportees have landed in India after securing necessary permissions. The landing site for any repatriation flight carrying deportees is decided based on operational convenience, the specific route for entry into Indian air space, and particularly, proximity to final destinations of the arriving deportees.”

On February 6, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said in a statement in Rajya Sabha that the government is engaging with the US to ensure that deported Indians are not mistreated.

Between 2009 and 2024, the US deported 15,564 Indians through chartered and commercial flights, according to MEA.