Were unlawful Indian immigrants deported from United States cuffed on trip?–

A United States armed forces airplane bring unlawful Indian immigrants landed in Amritsar on Wednesday mid-day.

This was the
initially expulsion to India throughout the 2nd regard to United States President Donald Trump.

However, all eyes were attracted to a photo of the deported immigrants being cuffed and having their legs chained while the United States deported them.

But what’s the fact behind the viral picture? Let’s take a more detailed look.

The viral picture

The United States Air Force airplane bring 104 deported Indians removed from San Antonio, Texas, and landed at Shri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport in Punjab’s Amritsar on Wednesday.

Pictures of individuals being in manacles began making the rounds on social media sites as word spread concerning the expulsion.

In one photo, males are revealed putting on manacles, their faces concealed by face masks, and chains around their ankle joints. Another shows a line of males with their hands bound behind their backs as they stroll.

Social media customers were outraged by the photos.

“Handcuffed and chained by the legs, Indians are returning to Amrit Kaal. I have never seen this sight ever!” checked out one blog post on X.

Handcuffed and chained by the legs and hands, Indians are going back to“Amrit Kaal” pic.twitter.com/t5lkZ8O22V

— Rishav Koner (@rishavkoner) February 5, 2025

Another netizen created, “Indians clearly are treated here like prisoners while they are not only handcuffed but also leg cuffed while they are being deported from USA by Trump.”

Indians plainly are dealt with right here like detainees while they are not just handcuffed yet likewise leg cuffed while they are being deported from United States by Trump.@DrSJaishankar could not you have atleast made our very own plans to have them gotten from there, atleast they would not have … pic.twitter.com/r3bkL2r0rM

— Pragnya Gupta (@GuptaPragnya) February 5, 2025

Congress response

Referring to the viral photo, Congress leader Pawan Khera claimed, “Looking at the pictures of Indians getting handcuffed and humiliated while being deported from the US saddens me as an Indian.”

The chairman of the Congress celebration’s media on X created, “I remember in December of 2013, an Indian diplomat, Devyani Khobragade, was handcuffed and strip-searched in America.”

“Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh registered a strong protest with US Ambassador Nancy Powell. The UPA govt retaliated sharply. Leaders like Meira Kumar, Sushil Kumar Shinde and Rahul Gandhi refused to meet the US Congressional delegation (George Holding, Pete Olson, David Schweikert, Rob Woodall, and Madeleine Bordallo) that was visiting India at that time,” he included.

Looking at the images of Indians obtaining cuffed and embarrassed while being deported from the United States distresses me as an Indian.

I bear in mind in December of 2013, an Indian mediator Devyani Khobragade was cuffed and strip browsed in America.

▪Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh …

— Pawan Khera (@Pawankhera) February 5, 2025

“Dr Manmohan Singh labelled the United States activity‘deplorable’ Govt of India took out a number of benefits provided to the United States consular office, consisting of imports of food and alcohol at concessional prices by consular office team,” Khera said.

Another Congress leader Prithviraj Sathe also tweeted the photo and wrote, “Over 200 Indians deported from the US in the most inhumane way—handcuffed, leg-chained, treated like criminals. One toilet for a long-haul flight!”

Further tagging External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, he asked, “Couldn’t Modi government at least arrange dignified transport for its own citizens? Global ‘Vishwaguru’ or global shame?”

The grand old party’s Gaurav Gogoi also protested against “the manner in which the United States government has sent Indians back to our country.”

“The way they are being chained is demeaning and dehumanising. I cannot understand why Prime Minister Modi is silent on the way Indians are being treated by the Trump administration,” Gogoi said in a post on X_._

The truth behind the picture

The image being posted on social media is fake.

After fact-checking the widely shared photo, PIB discovered that the picture doesn’t pertain to Indians.

Rather, the images depict migrants who were sent to Guatemala on January 30 after being deported from the US.

The image was first published by the news agency Associated Press on February 1 with the caption saying, “US Air Force jet with migrants bound at their wrists and ankles departed Texas for Guatemala on Thursday, carrying 80 deportees in another deportation flight that reflects a growing role for the armed forces in helping enforce immigration laws.”

Indian immigrants deported

Reuters reported that the C-17 aircraft carrying 104 Indian nationals departed from San Antonio, Texas and landed in Amritsar on Wednesday.

Punjab police said 33  immigrants  each were from Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state, and the northern state of Haryana, while 30 were from Punjab.

They underwent hours of scrutiny at the airport before police escorted them out in small groups in police vehicles.

Since Donald Trump took workplace once again, this is the initial team of illegal aliens from India to be deported.

Although previous United States managements have actually deported unlawful Indian immigrants, it is the
very first time Washington has actually made use of an armed forces airplane for the objective. It is likewise the farthest location thus far for such trips making use of an armed forces airplane.

According to The Indian Express, a United States consular office agent in Delhi previously on Tuesday claimed, “The US is vigorously enforcing its border, tightening immigration laws, and removing illegal migrants. These actions send a clear message: illegal migration is not worth the risk.”

As per the record, since November 2024, 20,407 “undocumented” Indians were either in apprehension centers run by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or dealing with “final removal orders.”

Meanwhile, hours after the expulsion, United States President Trump has actually welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to check out the White House following week, a White House authorities claimed.

With inputs from firms