Indian student handcuffed and deported at Newark airport

 

 

P.P. Cherian

NEWARK (New Jersey): An Indian student was handcuffed and tied to the ground at Newark airport and deported. The incident was captured in a viral video shared by Indian-American social entrepreneur Kunal Jain on X. The video shows the student crying. Authorities are accused of ‘behaving like a criminal’.

Jain, the president of HealthBots AI, who was at the airport, shared a video of the student in distress and described the scene. He heard the student speaking in Haryanvi and said, "I am not mad, these people are trying to make me mad." Jain shared his heartache. "I felt helpless and heartbroken. It was a tragedy," he said.

According to Jain, the student had a valid visa but "couldn't explain to the immigration authorities why they visited him." He added that similar incidents were happening regularly, with "3-4 cases" of students being "tied up like criminals and sent back on the evening flight" every day. Jain appealed to the public for help, saying, "The parents of this poor child don't know what is happening to him."

The Consulate General of India in New York has taken note of the social media posts and confirmed that it is in touch with local authorities on the matter.

15,564 Indian nationals have been deported from the US between 2009 and 2024, most of which were done secretly but are now being done by force.