The U.S. has deported fifty young Indian nationals, aged approximately 18 to 30, back to India after apprehending them for illegal entry, with reports indicating they were handcuffed and leg-chained during the return flight.

Sources say the individuals were located in the United States without valid travel or immigration documents and were placed on a military deportation flight to India. According to an eyewitness account, “Our legs were chained and hands were cuffed throughout the journey.”

The situation has triggered outrage in India, where critics accuse the U.S. of treating returning citizens like criminals. The government of India has formally registered its concerns with Washington, demanding that deportees be treated with dignity.

A spokesman for India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the matter is under discussion, while emphasising that no women or children were reportedly restrained on recent flights.

Immigration experts say such large-scale removals highlight the growing pressure on young Indians seeking unlawful entry into the U.S. via complex routes, often paying large sums to agents promising legal passage. The Indian government has warned prospective migrants of the risks of using such methods, which may end in detention and return rather than the promised American Dream.

Analysts suggest the issue could strain U.S.–India relations, especially given both countries’ ongoing cooperation on migration, labour mobility and bilateral diplomacy.

Source : Reuters / AP / Le Monde