New Delhi: The recent arrival of Indian nationals, deported from the US with their hands and legs chained, has raised serious concerns about human rights violations by the United States. The 104 Indian nationals were stuffed inside a US Air Force C130J aircraft and made a journey to India in about 40 hours with two stops inbetween. The deportees had just one bathroom to use during this entire journey. One wonders why a commercial flight wasn’t used for this deportation which would have been much cheaper and accommodated more people.
While illegal immigration is a complex issue that cannot be justified, it is equally important to ensure that those being deported are treated with dignity and respect. The US Immigration and Border Patrol must recognize the distinction between hardened criminals and individuals who have entered the country illegally or overstayed their visas. These individuals, often driven by desperation and a desire for a better life, deserve to be treated humanely.
The largest issue of illegal immigration however isn’t being talked about in this noise around the debate. India must address the root causes of illegal immigration, including the scourge of unscrupulous agents who promise the “American dream” to unsuspecting villagers in Punjab and Gujarat. These agents fleece innocent people of their money and facilitate their illegal entry into the US through treacherous routes that can take up to a year to navigate.
These agents in India have come to be known as Kabootarbaaz indulging in Kabootarbaazi. Kabootarbaaz loosely translates to a pigeon handler. The people willing to indulge in Kabootarbaazi are the Kabootar or pigeons.
Not all who use the illegal means to enter United States from India are innocent. There are elements who want to escape Indian laws and arrest after committing a crime. The illegal immigrants are likely to also include elements associated with designated Khalistani terror groups. Indian agencies and police must formulate a strategy to tackle this menace especially in Punjab and Gujarat.
The Indian Government must investigate every case of deportees sent back to India to crush the menace of these agents who use the Dunki route to make travel possible. In most cases the travelers who use the Dunki route have to cross the Panama jungles and jump over the Mexico border. The agents may even charge from 70 lakhs to 1 crore Indian rupees for the task.
Even illegal infiltrator is not a terrorist, radical or a troublemaker. Most who travel from India are just desperate or have been brainwashed over a period of time to undertake such harsh step for a better life in US. While India should have a tough approach towards illegal infiltrators who have nefarious designs especially from Bangladesh and Pakistan, India must also look look at this as a societal problem in some parts of the country where people want to escape reality into the unknown, unable to understand the legal consequences and person repercussions of the illegal path they have chosen.
India has long struggled with the issue of illegal immigration from Bangladesh, and it is imperative that the government takes concrete steps to strengthen border patrols and prevent such influx. India must never compromise on its sovereignty and national security. Over the years several thousand Bangladeshi as well as Rohingya refugees have illegally entered India, often obtaining fake Aadhar Cards and other Identification documentation and indulging in crime.
In recent months with a new interim Government in place in Bangladesh, attempts have been made by many to illegally enter India, but the same have been busted by Indian Police and the Border Security Force. There have also been reports of Pakistan trying to radicalise anti-social elements in Bangladesh to infiltrate into India for terrorism and create internal chaos. Indian intelligence agencies are monitoring which conspiracies closely,
Ultimately, the issue of illegal immigration requires a nuanced and multifaceted approach that balances the need for border security with the imperative to treat all individuals with dignity and respect.
Indians External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar while delivering his statement in the parliament rightly said that it is in our collective interest to encourage legal mobility and discourage illegal movement. Trump’s hardline against illegal immigration to bring down crime and illegal movement is worth appreciation. Yet Governments must come together to be accountable to their people and ensure that such illegal immigration doesn’t take place.
