Shashi Tharoor on US Deportation of Illegal Indian Immigrants: ‘Use of Military Plane Unnecessary’

As a U.S. military aircraft carrying over 100 deported Indian immigrants landed in Amritsar on Wednesday, the move sparked strong reactions from the Opposition. Congress criticized the action, alleging that deportees were “handcuffed and humiliated.” Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, shared his views on the issue.

US Entitled to Deport Illegal Immigrants, But the Mode of Transport Raises Questions

Tharoor acknowledged that the United States has the right to deport individuals found residing illegally. “If these people were in the U.S. without authorization and their Indian nationality has been confirmed, then India is legally obligated to take them back. That’s not a matter of debate,” he said. However, he expressed concern over their mode of return. “I would have preferred that they were sent back on a commercial flight or a civilian charter rather than a military aircraft. That sets a troubling precedent.”

No Justification for Seeking Regularization

On whether the Indian government should have pressured the U.S. to regularize some of these migrants, Tharoor disagreed. “Why should any country be forced to accept illegal immigrants when we oppose it? Immigration policies are determined by national interest and international law. Those who qualify for asylum due to persecution can apply legally, but economic migrants should follow due process,” he asserted.

He pointed out that legitimate travelers—students, professionals, and tourists—do not face such issues. “This primarily affects those who entered under pretenses, such as on tourist visas but remained illegally,” he added.

India’s Challenges With Illegal Immigration

Drawing parallels with India’s situation, Tharoor noted that if Bangladeshis were found living illegally in India and their nationality was confirmed, Bangladesh would be obligated to take them back. “However, the challenge lies in proving nationality. If there is no clear documentation, deportation becomes legally complicated,” he explained.

This, he said, was the core issue with the National Register of Citizens (NRC) debate in India. “We opposed NRC not because we support illegal immigration, but because it risked stripping legitimate Indians of their citizenship due to lack of documentation. Birth registration was not widespread in many parts of India until recently, so expecting every citizen to produce proof decades later is unrealistic,” he noted.

Lack of Accurate Data on Indian Diaspora

Tharoor also raised concerns over inadequate data on Indians living abroad. “In the Standing Committee, we questioned the government on deportation figures. There are major inconsistencies. For instance, the UN estimates that 17.8 million Indians migrated last year alone, while the Indian government claims there are only 15 million NRIs worldwide. These figures simply don’t add up,” he said, emphasizing the need for more reliable data collection.

Concerns Over Handcuffing and Treatment of Deportees

Responding to reports that some deportees were handcuffed, Tharoor strongly condemned the practice. “If true, this is unacceptable. These individuals are not criminals; they merely violate immigration laws. Their treatment should be humane and respectful,” he stated.

Tharoor urged the Indian government to take a firm stance. “The message should be clear: You can deport them, but they should not be treated like convicts. A military plane and handcuffs imply criminality, which is unwarranted in these cases,” he concluded.

While acknowledging that illegal immigration must be addressed, Tharoor stressed that deportation should be handled with dignity, and nations must follow protocols that respect human rights.