'Could have been avoided': India tells US on deportation of illegal immigrants

India on Friday (February 7) said it has registered concerns with the US over the deportation of illegal immigrants in shackles and conveyed that this kind of treatment could have been avoided.

The remarks of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri came amid an uproar over the deportation of illegal Indian immigrants by the US in handcuffs during their 40-hour flight onboard a military aircraft.

"We do make our concerns known to the United States that this kind of treatment can perhaps be avoided," the foreign secretary said in response to questions on the deportation.

Also Read: US Border Patrol chief shares video of deportees in handcuffs and shackles

Misri said there are as many as 487 presumed Indian citizens with final removal orders from the US authorities and details of 298 people have been shared with India.

He said the information shared by the US authorities was being verified.

'US policy in place since 2012'

He said the US policy of deporting illegal immigrants in restraints has been in place since 2012.

"I don't think there was any protest. We don't have any record of any protest having been made about it," the foreign secretary said to a question on whether India had registered its protest on deportation of illegal immigrants in shackles in 2012.

He referred to the statement by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Parliament on Thursday (February 6).

Also Read: Cuffing deportees 'great shame' for country: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann

"The description by the EAM of the standard operating procedure relating to the use of restraints which has been communicated to us by US authorities including the immigration and customs enforcement," Misri said.

He said the minister attracted attention to the fact that these have been in practice for a long period of time since 2012.

The foreign secretary said India continued to emphasise to US authorities that there should be no mistreatment of deportees.

"We will continue to take up any instances of mistreatment that come to our attention," he said.

He also stressed on the need to take action against the "real cancer" that is the ecosystem of illegal immigration.

PM Modi's US visit from Feb 12-13

The foreign ministry announced on Friday that Prime Minister Modi will meet US President Donald Trump next week during his trip to the US.

Vikram Misri told reporters that Modi will be among the first few world leaders to visit the United States following the inauguration of President Trump. He said the visit will be a valuable opportunity to engage the new administration on all areas of mutual interest, and said Modi will have a bilateral meeting with Trump.

Also Read: Modi-Trump are good friends, why PM let this happen? Priyanka on Indian deportees

"This has been one of our strongest international partnerships in recent years and the prime minister's visit is in line with our steady engagement with the new administration," said Misri.