Take back 271 illegals; US to India

New Delhi, March 25: The government has asked the US to provide details of the 271 illegal immigrants it wants New Delhi to take back.

“This is an ongoing matter. The US authorities had conveyed to us sometime back that out of certain statistics provided to us earlier, 271 cases remained to be addressed. However, no details of these cases were provided. We have asked for the same,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said.

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had on Thursday said in Parliament, “We have not accepted this list and have sought more details. We have said that it is only after we verify the details, can we issue an emergency certificate for their deportation.”

The Donald Trump administration has given a list of 271 people, claiming they were illegal migrants from India.

Meanwhile, IndianAmericans held a series of meetings to express their concern over growing hate crime incidents against ethnic and religious minorities in the United States.

“No matter what gunmen or the President (Donald Trump) say, this is our country, we are here to stay, and we will keep demanding our rightful and equal place in this quintessential nation of immigrants,” said Suman Raghunathan from the South Asian Americans leading Together (SAALT) at a town hall discussion in Washington.

Initiated by SAALT, South Asian groups are planning to organise a number of similar town halls across the country. — PTI