Haryana Youth Pinned Down At Newark Airport In Viral Video Had Entered US Illegally, To Be Deported

Two days after a video surfaced on social media showing a young man "speaking in a Haryanvi accent" being restrained at Newark Airport in the United States - handcuffed and held to the ground - it has been confirmed that the individual is from Haryana and had entered the US without proper documentation.

He is currently receiving care at a medical facility, according to official sources.

"Our Consulate in New York has confirmed that the person, a native of Haryana, entered the US illegally without a valid visa and was in the process of being deported to India under a court order," sources in India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday.

"During a stopover at Newark Airport, his behaviour was deemed unsuitable for travel. He was subsequently restrained and taken to a medical facility," the sources added.

The MEA had earlier taken up the matter with the US Embassy in New Delhi. The Indian Consulate in New York is also in contact with American authorities to clarify the situation.

"Once the individual is medically cleared to travel, he will be repatriated to India," MEA officials stated.

The footage and images, posted on X by Indian-American entrepreneur Kunal Jain, depicted the young man in distress, handcuffed and crying at the airport on Sunday night. Jain tagged both the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in his posts.

In response to the online posts, the Indian Consulate in New York said on Monday evening, "We are aware of social media reports concerning an Indian national facing difficulties at Newark Liberty International Airport. We are in contact with the relevant local authorities."

Images and video clips shared by Jain show the individual being restrained by officers from the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD), the law enforcement agency responsible for major transport facilities in New York and New Jersey.