Dunki Route, Unauthorised Agents: Families Of Indians Deported From US Share Harrowing Experiences

Amritsar: Hours after an American military aircraft carrying 104 deported Indians arrived at Shri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport here, some of the deportees and their family members expressed deep distress as they struggled to come to terms with the situation as a result of President Donald Trump’s policy to clear USA of illegal immigrants.

Those who returned to India in the C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the US Air Force included 33 individuals from Haryana, 33 from Gujarat, 30 from Punjab, 3 each from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, and 2 from Chandigarh. Among them were 19 women and 13 minors, including a four-year-old boy and two girls, aged five and seven.

Relatives of those from Punjab revealed that they had spent between ₹30 lakh and ₹50 lakh to send their loved ones to the US, many of whom had recently entered the country through unauthorised channels. The deportees had not applied for asylum before being sent back.

Family members of 35-year-old Sukhpal Singh from Darapur in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district believed he was in Italy, where he had been sent on a work permit. Similarly, relatives of 21-year-old Muskan from Jagraon town in Ludhiana thought she was in the UK, having moved there a year ago for higher education.

“My grandson had gone to the US just 15 days ago. I did not agree with the decision to send him to the US. But I don’t know what has gone wrong with the youth. I don’t know how much money they spent on sending him,” said Charanjit Singh, the grandfather of Ajaydeep Singh told The Indian Express.

Another immigrant’s father Swarn Singh, a farmer with 2.5 to 3 acres of land, financed his son Akashdeep’s journey abroad. After failing to secure a study visa through the IELTS exam, Akashdeep moved to Dubai 8-9 months ago, hoping to work as a truck driver. His family continued supporting him financially.

A month ago, he attempted to reach the US via an agent in Dubai, costing Swarn ₹60 lakh overall. Despite the loss, he said, “Money comes and goes, but the important thing is that my son has returned home safely.”

Sukhjeet Kaur, a 26-year-old from Verpal village, went to the US to marry her fiancé but was detained and deported before the wedding.

“She fell victim to an agent and entered the US illegally,” a relative was quoted as saying.

Harwinder Singh from Tahli village, Hoshiarpur, left for the US in August last year, travelling through multiple countries including Qatar, Brazil and Mexico.

“We crossed hills. A boat nearly capsized, but we survived,” he told Hindustan Times, recalling seeing one person die in Panama and another drown in the sea. His agent initially promised a European route, and he spent Rs 42 lakh on the journey.

Another deportee from Punjab recounted the harrowing ‘dunki route’ to the US, where their clothes, valued at ₹30,000-35,000, were stolen.

He described a tough journey, starting in Italy and leading to Latin America, with a 15-hour boat ride and a 40-45 km walk. “We crossed 17-18 hills. If someone slipped, there was no chance of survival. We saw dead bodies,” he shared.