In a statement to the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) in view of the stir in the country over the arrival of the first deportees by the Donald Trump administration, the Foreign Minister said that it is in the interest of both the Executive and the members of the Upper House to discourage illegal migration.

He noted that illegal mobility and migration have many activities associated with them that make the citizens who venture into them victims of crimes.

The Indian Foreign Minister was of the view that India, like other countries, has an obligation to accept its citizens illegally abroad.

He also showed data on the number of illegal migrants deported by the United States since 2009 that India has received.

He explained that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities are in charge of enforcing deportations, through a standard operating procedure that came into effect in 2012, which provides for the use of restraint devices.

Jaishankar noted that the U.S. authorities affirmed to their Indian counterparts that women and children are not subject to such treatment.

Moreover, he added, that during transit, the deportees’ needs related to food and other needs such as possible medical emergencies are taken care of.

However, the Indian chief diplomat stressed that New Delhi and Washington are working together to ensure that deportees are not mistreated in any way during the flight.

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