NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Newark, NJ, June 9, 2025: A video shared by Indian-American entrepreneur Kunal Jain on social media has brought national attention to the deportation proceedings of a young Indian student from Newark Liberty International Airport under distressing circumstances. The student, reportedly handcuffed and in tears, was pinned to the ground by U.S. officials.
Jain, who witnessed the incident firsthand, posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“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.”
The post quickly went viral, drawing reactions from across the globe and reigniting concerns about the treatment of international students at U.S. ports of entry.
Kunal Jain’s eyewitness account was also published in The New Indian Express.
According to Jain, the young man repeatedly shouted in Hindi, “Main pagal nahi hoon… yeh log mujhe pagal sabit karna chahte hain” (“I’m not mad… they’re trying to prove I’m mentally unstable”).
Jain wrote that the man resisted deportation and was eventually pinned down by officers. The pilot of the flight reportedly refused to allow him to board after observing the scene. The officers then left the area with the student.
While the identity and visa status of the individual have not been made public, the account has prompted questions about the processes followed during immigration enforcement and the support systems available to international students.
In his piece, Jain reflected on the challenges faced by many Indian students in the U.S., who often arrive with high hopes and invest significant financial resources to pursue education. He noted that students who are unable to secure employment after graduation may lose their legal status and face deportation.
The Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. has acknowledged the incident and stated it is in contact with U.S. authorities to gather more information and offer consular assistance if required.
There has been no official statement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection regarding the incident.
Cover photo courtesy: Kunal Jain/@SonofIndia/X
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. @IndianEmbassyUS #immigrationraids pic.twitter.com/0cINhd0xU1
— Kunal Jain (@SONOFINDIA) June 8, 2025
