External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday that the deportation of 104 Indian migrants from the United States was not a new development but part of an ongoing process that has been in place for several years.His remarks came as he was speaking at the Rajya Sabha after a special flight carrying the deported individuals landed in New Delhi. The US authorities had sent them back for violating immigration laws.Speaking on the matter, Jaishankar emphasised that all countries have an obligation to take back illegal immigrants, calling it a generally accepted principle.Jaishankar said that illegal mobility and migration are of an illegal nature, with many Indian citizens falling prey to it, often being trapped into moving and working under inhuman conditions. He noted that fatalities have occurred during migration, and those who have returned have shared harrowing experiences.Jaishankar also emphasised that it is the obligation of every country to take back their citizens, stating that the process of deportation is not new and has been ongoing for years. He further confirmed that the Indian government is engaging with the US authorities to ensure that the returning deportees are not mistreated in any manner.He further stated that the Indian government is in touch with US authorities to ensure the returnees are treated properly. “We are engaging the US government to ensure the returning deportees are not mistreated in any manner,” he added.Jaishankar also presented data in the Rajya Sabha on the number of Indians deported by the US since 2009. The figures showed fluctuations over the years, with the highest number recorded in 2019 at 2,042 deportations. The data is as follows:2009: 7342010: 7992011: 5972012: 5302013: 5502014: 5912015: 7082016: 1,3032017: 1,0242018: 1,1802019: 2,0422020: 1,8892021: 8052022: 8622023: 6702024: 1,3682025: 104 (so far)(This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow)
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