A distressing video showing an Indian man being handcuffed and pinned to the ground by authorities at Newark Airport in New Jersey has gone viral across social media platforms. Kunal Jain, an Indian-American entrepreneur who shared the footage, claimed the incident took place on 7 June. According to him, the individual in question was a student scheduled to board the same flight as Jain but was left behind and subsequently deported.
In the video, the visibly distressed student is seen restrained on the floor, weeping as officers stand nearby. Jain, who witnessed the scene firsthand, expressed his anguish over the student's treatment. He wrote, &ldquo;I witnessed a young Indian student being deported from Newark Airport last night &mdash; 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.&rdquo;
Jain has urged the Indian Embassy in the United States to look into the matter and extend support to the student. He tagged both the Indian Embassy and the External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, seeking urgent intervention.
In response to the incident, the Indian Consulate in New York issued a statement on Monday, saying, &ldquo;We have come across social media posts claiming that an Indian national is facing difficulties at Newark Liberty International Airport. We are in touch with local authorities in this regard. The Consulate remains ever committed to the welfare of Indian nationals.&rdquo;
Jain further noted that the student appeared to be speaking in Haryanavi, suggesting he may have hailed from Haryana. He also pointed out that there have been multiple similar incidents recently, where Indian nationals were deported due to an apparent failure to convincingly explain the purpose of their visit to US immigration authorities. He added that despite possessing valid visas and boarding passes, several students are being detained upon arrival, interrogated for hours, and sometimes deported in handcuffs &mdash; treated, in effect, like criminals.
&ldquo;This poor boy&rsquo;s parents likely have no idea what is happening to him,&rdquo; Jain wrote. &ldquo;He was supposed to board the same flight as me last night but never did. Someone needs to find out his whereabouts from the New Jersey authorities. I found him disoriented.&rdquo;
The video has sparked widespread debate and concern online, with many sharing it across platforms and media outlets beginning to report on the incident. It has come to symbolise growing fears among Indian students in the US, many of whom now feel uncertain and anxious about their future.
Public reaction has been mixed. One social media user commented, &ldquo;Handcuffed? That might be wrong, but did he follow the correct procedure to enter? If not, then why is deportation inappropriate?&rdquo;
Another wrote, &ldquo;You&rsquo;re not alone. Most NRIs aren&rsquo;t helpless &mdash; the right word is &lsquo;useless&rsquo; when it comes to standing together. We are too selfish. In time, we&rsquo;ll all feel the consequences of this attitude.&rdquo;
A third person questioned, &ldquo;What do you mean he couldn&rsquo;t explain his visit? If he doesn&rsquo;t speak English, how did he pass his exams? What course was he planning to take?&rdquo;
A fourth added, &ldquo;He was interrogated for five to six hours. An Indian official was even called to speak with him, but he still failed to answer questions properly. Yes, he shouldn&rsquo;t have been treated in such a way &mdash; they should have escorted him and informed the consulate &mdash; but clearly, a different set of protocols was followed.&rdquo;
While many social media users expressed outrage and sympathy for the student, others questioned the legality of his entry into the United States. One user wrote, "Sorry, but if he&rsquo;s in the country illegally, deportation is justified. He can return home &mdash; there&rsquo;s no shortage of dreams in India."

Indian student pinned to floor during US detention

Jain wrote: He came chasing dreams, not harm. Handcuffed, crying — a human tragedy

'Treated Like a Criminal': Indian Student’s US Ordeal

Jain wrote: He came chasing dreams, not harm. Handcuffed, crying — a human tragedy

June 10, 2025 | 15:29 IST

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