Following the handcuffing and deportation of an Indian student from Newark Airport in the United States, the US embassy in India has said although the country continues to welcome legitimate travellers, they will not tolerate illegal entry, abuse of visas or violation of US law. It also said there is no right to visit the United States.
“The United States continues to welcome legitimate travellers to our country. However, there is no right to visit the United States. We cannot and will not tolerate illegal entry, abuse of visas, or the violation of US law,” wrote the US Embassy in India on social media.
Reacting to the incident, Congress on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should immediately talk to US President Donald Trump to appeal for intervention on the “mistreatment and atrocities” against Indians. The party made this assertion after a video emerged showing an Indian student being handcuffed and pinned to the floor at a US airport.
Congress leaders also shared the video and pictures of an Indian student handcuffed and pinned to the floor at USA’s Newark Airport before he was allegedly deported.
The Consulate General of India in New York has said it is in touch with local authorities after the video
surfaced online showing the young Indian man being handcuffed and allegedly being deported.
“We have come across social media posts claiming that an Indian national is facing difficulties at Newark Liberty International Airport. We are in touch with local authorities in this regard,” the Indian Consulate said in a social media post.
“The Consulate remains ever committed for the welfare of Indian Nationals,” it said.
The issue sparked off after a video of the handcuffing incident was shared on social media by a NRI who wrote that the student was treated like a criminal by the officials.
“I witnessed a young Indian student being deported from Newark Airport last night- handcuffed, crying, treated like a criminal. He came chasing dreams, not causing harm. As an NRI, I felt helpless and heartbroken. This is a human tragedy,” he wrote on social media.
According to social media user Kunal Jain, a social entrepreneur, the student was speaking in Haryanvi, insisting that he was not crazy, but the authorities were trying to make him look that way.
“These children get their visas and get on a flight in the morning. For some reason, they are unable to explain the reason for their visit to the immigration authorities and are sent back in the evening flight tied up like criminals. Every day 3-4 such cases are happening. There have been more such cases in the last few days,” Jain said.
This comes amid the US Government’s intensified crackdown on international students by revoking visas without prior notice. From pro-Palestine protests to traffic violations, the reasons have varied case by case, often plunging students into a legal quagmire and widespread confusion.