Wrong to send illegal immigrants in shackles: Union minister Athawale-OxBig News Network

Union Minister of State Ramdas Athawale
| Photo Credit: PTI

Union minister Ramdas Athawale has said it was wrong to deport illegal immigrants from America to India in shackles and the U.S. government should have avoided such a treatment.

The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment made the comments on Saturday (February 8, 2025) during a press conference, where he also shared details of the Union Budget.

On the treatment of undocumented immigrants who were deported from the U.S. to India earlier this week, Mr. Athawale said it was wrong to send them in shackles. A U.S. military aircraft carrying 104 illegal Indian immigrants landed in Amritsar on February 5. It was the first such batch of Indians deported by the Donald Trump administration as part of a crackdown against illegal immigrants.

Some of the deportees claimed their hands and legs were cuffed throughout the journey and they were unshackled only after landing in Amritsar.

“The US government should have avoided such treatment,” Mr. Athawale, who heads the Republican Party Of India (A), said adding the issue would be discussed during the PM’s visit to the U.S. next week.

India on Friday (February 8, 2025) said it has registered concerns with the US over the deportation of illegal immigrants in shackles and conveyed that this kind of treatment could have been avoided.