The Indian Parliament was in an uproar on Thursday over reports that migrants who were in the United States illegally were mistreated while being deported on an American military plane, including being shackled during the long intercontinental journey.
More than 100 undocumented immigrants were returned to India on Wednesday. While deportations are nothing new — India is a big source of unauthorized migration to the United States — most have relied on commercial flights.
The use of a military aircraft, along with the claims of mistreatment, appears to have hit a nerve, creating a political headache for Prime Minister Narendra Modi days before he is expected to visit President Trump in Washington.
Mr. Modi has described the president as a “dear friend.” Officials in India had hoped their declared willingness to work with the United States on taking back migrants would avoid the embarrassment and back-and-forths seen in countries like Brazil and Colombia.
In India, much of the outrage on Thursday was in response to reports in local media, citing accounts of deportees, that they were shackled for over 40 hours and that their access to toilets was restricted.
A video put out by U.S. Customs and Border Protection showed the deportees boarding the plane in shackles. A spokesman for the United States Embassy in New Delhi declined to comment on reports that women and children were shackled.