Ambala (Haryana) [India], February 8 (HBTV): Haryana Minister Anil Vij on Friday called for action against those responsible for facilitating the illegal immigration of Indian nationals to the United States.

Vij was responding to Deepender Hooda's statement on Indian citizens deported from the US, in which Hooda termed the handcuffing of Indian nationals deported in a US Air Force aircraft an insult to the entire country.

‘Those who have been deported had gone (to the US) illegally. Cases should be registered against those who helped these people go abroad illegally,’ Vij said while speaking to the media.

Meanwhile, Karnal DSP Rajiv Kumar provided further details, confirming that an FIR had been filed against agents allegedly facilitating illegal immigration.

‘In the plane that arrived a day before yesterday, there were seven men from Karnal. Out of these, three have filed complaints regarding illegal immigration. An FIR has been registered, and an investigation is underway. In 2024 alone, 144 FIRs have been registered in similar cases. Around 83 agents involved in illegal immigration were arrested earlier, and LoC notices have been issued against 37 agents currently abroad,’ said DSP Rajiv Kumar.

The matter pertains to the deportation of over 100 Indian nationals. A US Air Force plane carrying Indian citizens who allegedly migrated illegally to the US arrived in Punjab's Amritsar on Wednesday.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday stated that all nations are obligated to take back their nationals if found residing illegally in another country. He added that the Indian government is engaging with the US authorities to ensure that deportees are not mistreated.

In his statement in the Rajya Sabha, Jaishankar explained that deportations by the US are carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities under a standard operating procedure (SOP) that has been in effect since 2012.

‘Deportations by the US are organised and executed by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities. The standard operating procedure for deportation by aircraft used by ICE has been effective since 2012. I repeat, that is effective from 2012, and it provides for the use of restraints.

However, we have been informed by ICE that women and children are not restrained. Further, the needs of deportees, including food and other necessities, as well as possible medical emergencies, are attended to. During toilet breaks, deportees are temporarily unrestrained if needed,’ Jaishankar stated.

(ANI)