104 Undocumented Indians Deported from the US, Face Harsh Journey and Struggles

A US military plane carrying 104 undocumented Indian immigrants landed in Amritsar on Wednesday. This marks the first major deportation action under the Donald Trump administration. Among them, 33 were from Haryana, 33 from Gujarat, 30 from Punjab, three from Maharashtra, three from Uttar Pradesh, and two from Chandigarh. The group included 19 women and 13 minors, with a four-year-old boy and two young girls. After completing formalities, they were taken back to their hometowns by police.

Deportees Share Their Struggles

One deportee, Jaspal Singh, shared his painful experience. “We were handcuffed and had shackles on our legs, which were only removed when we landed in Amritsar,” he said. Initially, he and others didn’t realize they were being sent back to India. They only found out when a police officer informed them mid-journey.

Jaspal said he was misled by a travel agent who promised legal entry into the US but instead tricked him into taking an illegal route. He paid ₹30 lakh for the arrangement, believing he would get a proper visa.

His journey began in July last year when he flew to Brazil. He was told the rest of the trip would also be by air, but instead, he had to cross borders illegally. After six months in Brazil, he entered the US but was caught by border patrol. He spent 11 days in detention before being deported. His family only learned about his return through news reports.

Jaspal expressed deep disappointment, saying, “A huge amount of money was spent, and we had to borrow it. Now, everything is lost.”

A Dangerous Journey Through the ‘Donkey Route’

Another deportee, Harwinder Singh from Punjab, described his terrifying journey. He traveled through multiple countries, including Qatar, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Panama, Nicaragua, and Mexico, before attempting to enter the US.

“We crossed hills, and the boat we were on nearly capsized. We saw people die in the Panama jungle and at sea,” he recalled. Harwinder had been promised a route through Europe but was instead sent through dangerous paths. He spent ₹42 lakh on the trip.

Others on the same route recounted their clothes being stolen along the way, leaving them with almost nothing. One man described a 15-hour boat ride followed by a grueling 40-45 km trek across 17-18 hills. “If anyone fell, they didn’t survive. We saw dead bodies along the way,” he said.

Political Reactions and Concerns Over Treatment of Deportees

Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera criticized the Modi government over the treatment of the deported Indians. He compared it to the 2013 incident where Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade was handcuffed and strip-searched in the US, an action that led to strong protests from the Indian government.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore shared an image of handcuffed deportees, calling it “shocking and shameful.” He demanded answers from the government, asking why Indians were being treated “like criminals.” He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar to take action.

The situation has sparked outrage, with many questioning how India will respond to the treatment of its citizens abroad.