FACT CHECK: Are Viral Images of Indians Deported from the US Real?

VIRAL CLAIM: Social media posts claim that over 100 Indians deported from the US were handcuffed and shackled on a military plane. Photos and videos circulating online allegedly show these deported individuals in distress.

FactCheck India investigated these claims, and here’s the truth:

CLAIM 1: “Indians deported from the US were handcuffed and shackled on a C-17 military plane.”

🔍 Fact: FALSE

• The viral image showing people handcuffed on a plane is NOT of Indian deportees.
• It’s an old photo from January 30, 2024, showing migrants being deported to Guatemala from El Paso, Texas, not India.
• The photo was originally taken by the Associated Press and has no connection to the recent deportations of Indian migrants.

CLAIM 2: “A C-17 military plane recently flew deported Indians back to India.”

🔍 Fact: PARTLY TRUE, BUT MISLEADING

• Yes, a C-17 military plane did deport 104 undocumented Indian migrants from the US, arriving in Amritsar, Punjab, on February 5, 2025.
• However, the photo shared online is misleading—it’s from January 23, 2024, showing a deportation flight to Guatemala, not India.
• The US Air Force originally released this photo, and it’s being wrongly used to mislead people.

CLAIM 3: “Over 1.2 million Indians will be deported from the US and Canada.”

🔍 Fact: FALSE

• This number is grossly exaggerated.
• According to a Bloomberg report, around 18,000 undocumented Indian migrants were identified for deportation by the US in 2024.
• Between 2023 and 2024, 1,100+ Indians were deported during President Joe Biden’s term, before Donald Trump took office.
• There’s no official plan to deport 1.2 million Indians.

CLAIM 4: “A video shows Indian deportees in pain, shackled while boarding a plane.”

🔍 Fact: FALSE

• The viral Instagram video is NOT of Indian deportees.
• It’s footage from January 23, 2024, showing migrants being deported to Guatemala.
• The video was released by the US Department of Defense (DoD) and has been falsely linked to Indian deportees.

THE FACTS:

• 104 undocumented Indians were deported from the US on February 5, 2025, aboard a military plane—the first such flight under the Trump administration.
• No verified photos or videos show these Indian deportees handcuffed or shackled.
• The images and videos going viral are old, unrelated, and have been misleadingly repurposed to spread misinformation.

DON’T FALL FOR FAKE NEWS!

Misinformation can spread like wildfire, especially when sensitive issues like deportation are involved.

Always VERIFY before you SHARE.

Stay informed with FactCheck India—your trusted source for the truth.