Indian Government Plans New Law to Protect Citizens Working Abroad Amid Rising Deportations.

Delhi: The number of Indians traveling abroad for work continues to rise. While most Indians do not face any issues in foreign countries, there are instances where some encounter difficulties. Meanwhile, reports suggest that the central government is planning to take an important step regarding this matter.

Indians travel abroad for various reasons, including education and employment. In particular, the number of people moving abroad has significantly increased over the past few years.

Indians in Foreign Countries:
Most Indians travel abroad with proper visas. However, some attempt to enter foreign countries without the required documentation. Generally, obtaining a visa for the U.S. is difficult, which is why many try to enter illegally. Reports indicate that around 700,000 Indians are residing illegally in the U.S. After taking office, former U.S. President Donald Trump introduced several strict policies. He claimed that illegal immigrants were responsible for the economic crisis in the U.S. and vowed to deport them. He had made this promise even before the elections, and after assuming office, he began implementing these measures.

Controversy Over Deportation:
Recently, 104 Indians who were staying illegally in the U.S. were deported. The way they were deported—shackled and transported in a military aircraft—sparked a major controversy. Amidst this, reports suggest that the Indian government is planning to introduce a new law for Indians working abroad.

New Law for Overseas Indians:
As more Indians travel abroad for education and employment, the central government has decided to introduce this law. This law is expected to address the protection of Indian workers overseas.

A total of 104 Indians were deported from the U.S., including 33 from Gujarat and Haryana, 30 from Punjab, and others from Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Chandigarh. Among them, 19 were women and 13 were children, including a 4.5-year-old boy and girls aged five and seven.

Government's Clarification:
The government clarified that women and children were not handcuffed, but the men were shackled during deportation. Many of them reported difficulties in using restrooms due to the restraints. This issue was even raised in Parliament, with opposition MPs questioning the incident. In response, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar explained that deportation procedures in the U.S. require such measures as per their laws. However, he assured that steps would be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.

Where Were They Arrested?
All the deported Indians had initially left India legally. However, they were arrested while attempting to enter the U.S. illegally. Many of them were detained at the U.S.-Mexico border.