NEWARK- An Indian student faced aggressive restraint by authorities at Newark Airport (EWR) in New Jersey during his deportation process.
Videos captured by witnesses went viral on social media, showing the student handcuffed and pinned to the ground by multiple officials, triggering widespread condemnation over the treatment.
Indian Student Handcuffed at Newark Airport
Kunal Jain, an Indian-American entrepreneur, witnessed and recorded the incident at Newark Airport (EWR).
The footage shows at least 4 officials restraining the student on the ground, with two officers placing their knees on his back while his hands and legs remained tied. Jain documented the scene and shared it across social media platforms.
“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.”
Kunal Jain wrote on X
He called upon the Indian Embassy in the United States to investigate the matter and provide assistance to the affected student.
Embassy Response
The Indian Embassy in New York addressed the incident one day after the videos circulated online. Embassy officials acknowledged seeing social media posts claiming an Indian national encountered difficulties at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
“We are in touch with local authorities in this regard. The Consulate remains ever committed to the welfare of Indian Nationals,” the Embassy stated in its official response.
Communication Breakdown
Jain provided detailed testimony to NDTV about what transpired during the incident. He explained that the student appeared disoriented and spoke in Haryanvi, which authorities claimed they could not understand. When Jain approached a police officer offering to help translate, officials refused his assistance and instead called additional police reinforcement.
Approximately 50 people surrounded the scene, but none dared intervene during the confrontation.
The pilot ultimately refused to allow the student aboard the aircraft, citing safety concerns for other passengers due to the student’s agitated state.
Officials then restrained the student publicly while he protested in Hindi, saying “Mai pagal nahi hu, yeh mujhe pagal bana rahe hai. Mai pagal nahi hu, yeh mujhe pagal sabit kar rahe hai” (I’m not mad, they are trying to make me mad, prove that I’m mad). Seven to eight additional police officers arrived, cleared the entire queue, and physically restrained the student with bound hands and legs.
Language Barrier
According to Jain’s account, communication difficulties intensified the situation. While the student could understand English, stress and disorientation caused him to revert to speaking Hindi. Jain suspected immigration officers initially found the student disoriented at the port of entry, leading to visa denial.
“The problem was communication. Something might have occurred at the port of entry. The immigration officers may have found that he is disoriented, and that’s why they denied his visa. But in most cases, what they do is they keep the person’s dignity intact,” Jain explained to NDTV.
Pattern of Deportations
This incident recalls similar deportation controversies during President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdowns. In February, over 100 Indians were transported back to India under circumstances that drew criticism. US Border Patrol videos showed migrants handcuffed with shackled legs, forced to walk in shuffles typically associated with convicted criminals upon disembarking aircraft.
The February deportations triggered a fierce opposition response in India, with critics questioning why the government failed to arrange humane transportation for returning citizens.
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