Another batch of illegal immigrants from India, deported by the US, landed in Delhi today. These individuals, part of a group of 12, were sent back to India via Panama. Four of the deported migrants are from Punjab’s Amritsar. This marks the latest in a series of deportations, with the first group arriving in India on February 5, transported by a US military plane.
President Donald Trump has strongly defended his administration’s mass deportation policies, calling them part of a broader effort to “drain the swamp” by removing individuals he characterizes as “fraudsters, cheaters, globalists, and deep state bureaucrats.” These deportations reflect his broader stance on illegal immigration, which has become a hallmark of his presidency. As of 2022, unauthorized immigrants made up 3.3% of the total US population and 23% of the foreign-born population, according to the Pew Research Center.
While the deportations are framed by the Trump administration as a means of curbing illegal immigration, they have drawn significant criticism, especially from international bodies and human rights organizations. The first batch of deportees was sent via Panama, with President Jose Raul Mulino of Panama agreeing to serve as a “bridge” country for these individuals. This arrangement has sparked concern, as nearly 300 deported immigrants are currently held in a Panama hotel. With 40% of them refusing voluntary repatriation, UN agencies have been seeking alternative destinations, further complicating the issue.
Amid these developments, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar defended his government’s engagement with the US, assuring that the Centre is working to ensure the deportees are treated with dignity. Jaishankar emphasized that the US’ deportation practices are not new, but have been ongoing for years. However, the growing number of deportations under the Trump administration raises critical questions about the ethics of mass deportation, the conditions in which these individuals are being held, and the broader implications for international relations and human rights.
Furthermore, the US is extending its mass deportation efforts beyond adults, as an internal memo from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reveals plans to target migrant children who crossed the US-Mexico border without their parents. Over 600,000 such children have entered the country since 2019, according to government data. The policy aims to find these children and place them in deportation proceedings, expanding the already controversial push to remove unauthorized immigrants from the country.
In the face of these sweeping measures, there is mounting concern over the treatment of deported individuals, both in Panama and in the US. The current situation presents not just a moral and humanitarian challenge but also raises questions about the long-term impact of such policies on the global perception of the US and its commitment to human rights. Whether these deportations will ultimately serve to address the complex issue of immigration or exacerbate existing tensions remains an open and contentious question.
