Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the "inhuman treatment" of illegal Indian immigrants from the US, the White House has shared a clip on social media showing deportees being chained and shackled. The clip, shared on X, shows deportees being handcuffed and chained around their legs and waist by the US cops before they board flights to their respective countries. One of them is seen ascending the steel steps of a flight with chains on legs. While sharing the clip, the White House remarked it as, "ASMR: Illegal Alien Deportation Flight." ASMR means autonomous sensory meridian response, a tingling sensation in the body which occurs as part of stress relief. Elon Musk, Tesla CEO and senior adviser to US President Donald Trump, commented, "So based." The destination of the flight and the country of origin of the deportees in this specific video remain unclear. ASMR: Illegal Alien Deportation Flight 🔊 pic.twitter.com/O6L1iYt9b4— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 18, 2025 As many as 332 Indians have been deported by the US in three batches on military aircraft on February 5, 15, and 16. Deportations will continue every other week until all illegal immigrants are returned to their home countries as part of US President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal migration, sources said. The alleged "dehumanisation" of deportees had led to pandemonium in Parliament last week with Opposition MPs protesting. Following this, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar vowed to take up the issue with the US government. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bilateral meeting with President Trump in the US, Modi emphasised India's commitment to repatriate citizens while highlighting the problem of human trafficking. Modi also stated that individuals living unlawfully in foreign countries have no legal right to stay. There are approximately 725,000 illegal Indian immigrants in the US, with 20,000 identified for deportation. Since 2009, around 15,500 Indians have been deported, including 6,135 during Trump's first term as President. While repatriation of illegal immigrants is part of complying with international law for India, the use of handcuffs and shackles, part of US standard operating procedure, raises concerns.
