Indian wrestled to ground, handcuffed, detained at Newark airport entered US illegally

A non-resident Indian filmed the detention of the Indian youth at Newark airport and posted the video on social media on June 8, triggering a reaction in India

Updated on: Jun 11, 2025, 15:15:59 IST

By Rezaul H Laskar

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An Indian national, whose detention at Newark airport in New Jersey was captured in a viral video, had illegally entered the United States (US) without a valid visa, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

The youth was wrestled to the ground and handcuffed. (X)

A non-resident Indian filmed the detention of the Indian youth at Newark airport and posted the video on social media on June 8. The video triggered a reaction in India as it showed the youth being wrestled to the ground and handcuffed by American security personnel.

The people cited above said on condition of anonymity that the individual shown being detained at Newark airport in the social media post had illegally entered the US without a valid visa. “Our consulate in New York ascertained that the individual, who belongs to Haryana, entered the US without a valid visa and is being deported back to India in line with a court order,” one of the people said.

While the Indian youth was transiting through Newark airport, US authorities concluded that “his behaviour was not conducive to travel” and he was restrained and admitted to a medical facility, the person said. “Once he is fit to travel, the individual will be deported to India. Our consulate in New York continues to remain engaged with US authorities on this matter,” the person added.

The US embassy in New Delhi said in a social media post on Tuesday that the US will not “tolerate illegal entry” or “abuse of visas”. Without referring to any specific case, the embassy said that the US continues to welcome legitimate travellers. “However, there is no right to visit the United States. We cannot and will not tolerate illegal entry, abuse of visas, or the violation of US law,” the embassy said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rezaul H Laskar
Rezaul Hasan Laskar is Foreign Editor with the Hindustan Times, which he joined in 2015. He began as a journalist in his hometown of Shillong in northeast India and has worked in newspapers and wire services over the years. He moved to New Delhi in 1997 and initially focused on defence, national security, Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast, while also working of foreign policy and international relations. He has been part of the media delegation accompanying PMs on foreign visits and has reported from destinations ranging from Tibet to Ukraine. Between 2007 and 2013, he was the Press Trust of India correspondent in Pakistan, one of only two Indian journalists allowed to report from the country. He extensively covered Pakistan’s domestic politics and the life of the common people, as well as the fallout of the 2008 Mumbai attacks on India-Pakistan relations and the subsequent trial in Pakistan of the suspects involved in the attack. As part of his reportage in Pakistan, he travelled the breadth of the country, from the Swat Valley to Balochistan. Reza’s first gig in journalism was writing a weekly music column, and music – especially classic rock – remains a keen interest. He is also a movie buff and a keen photographer.Read More

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