India steps in for Kairi Shepherd

India today asked the United States to treat with "utmost
compassion" the issue of deportation of Indian-American orphan Kairi Abha
Shepherd who faces the prospect of being sent back to her country of birth where
she was adopted by an American woman 30 years ago.

"It's a tragic
humanitarian issue and should be treated by the US with utmost compassion",
Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai told reporters .

He said the Indian
Consulate in San Francisco had written to concerned US authorities on the issue
but was yet to get any response from them.

Shepherd, who has said that
deportation would be like "death sentence" to her, under US laws can't be sent
back toIndia unless Indian government provides necessary travel documents for
her.

"Before carrying out a deportation, ICE (US Immigration and Customs
Enforcement) must first obtain a travel documentto ensure the receiving country
will admit the alien who is being returned," ICE spokesperson Lori K Haley told
PTI without commenting on the deportation case of Shepherd.