A viral video showing a young Indian student being forcibly restrained, handcuffed, and deported at Newark Liberty International Airport in the U.S. has sparked outrage on social media and raised concerns over the treatment of Indian citizens abroad.
The video, posted by Indian entrepreneur Kunal Jain, captures a distressing scene in which the student, reportedly from Haryana, is seen crying and pinned to the ground by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, with his legs shackled and hands cuffed. The incident took place on June 9.
According to U.S. authorities, the individual was attempting to enter the country without a valid visa and was deemed “medically unfit for travel” or exhibiting behavior “not conducive to travel.” He was deported under an official order, though exact details of the circumstances remain unclear.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has expressed concern.
“Our Embassy in Washington, DC and Consulate in New York are in touch with U.S. authorities. We have so far not received full details about the incident or the reasons for the restraint used,” the sources said.
The Indian Consulate in New York confirmed it is following up on the case and ensuring the individual’s welfare.
The incident comes against a backdrop of rising tensions over the treatment of Indian students and travelers in the United States. In February 2025, over 100 Indian nationals who were in the United States without proper legal status (undocumented immigrants or visa overstayers) were deported by U.S. authorities. This incident drew criticism from opposition lawmakers in India.
In 2013, Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade was arrested in New York on charges of visa fraud and underpaying her domestic worker. She was handcuffed, strip-searched, and held with common criminals, sparking outrage in India. The incident triggered a major diplomatic row between India and the U.S., as India protested the humiliating treatment of its diplomat, seeing it as a violation of diplomatic norms and national dignity. The standoff eventually ended after Khobragade was granted full diplomatic immunity and returned to India.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh expressed his view on X,
The Congress leader further demanded that PM Modi should immediately talk to Trump and appeal for intervention on the mistreatment and atrocities being committed against Indians in America.
The MEA has formally raised the Newark incident with the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. However, Indian officials and citizens continue to call for more transparency from U.S. authorities and firmer action to ensure such episodes do not recur.
