“Handcuffed and Shackled”: Indian immigrant reveals US Deportation ordeal
US authorities deported 104 Indians to Amritsar on Wednesday. The deportees endured harsh treatment during their flight. Officers kept them in handcuffs and leg chains until they landed.
Jaspal Singh from Gurdaspur faced arrest by US Border Patrol on January 24. First, he spent six months in Brazil. Then, he attempted to cross into the US illegally.
Moreover, the deportation marked a significant milestone. This group represented the first batch of Indians sent back under the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
The deportees came from several states. Specifically, Haryana and Gujarat each had 33 people. Additionally, Punjab had 30 returnees. Furthermore, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh each had three, while Chandigarh had two. The group included 19 women and 13 children, including three young ones aged four to seven.
Meanwhile, local police transported Punjab residents directly to their homes from the airport.
Two other deportees shared their harrowing stories in Hoshiarpur. Harwinder Singh from Tahli village began his journey last August. Initially, he traveled through Qatar. Subsequently, he moved through Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Panama, Nicaragua, and Mexico.
His journey proved extremely dangerous. First, their boat nearly capsized at sea. Then, he witnessed one death in Panama’s jungle. Another person drowned at sea. His travel agent had promised a safer European route. Instead, Singh spent ₹42 lakh on this perilous journey.
Another Punjab deportee detailed the notorious ‘donkey route.’ Thieves stole their clothes worth ₹30,000-35,000 during the journey. First, they went to Italy. After that, they traveled through Latin America.
The journey became increasingly treacherous. They endured a 15-hour boat ride. Next, they walked 40-45 kilometers. Finally, they crossed 17-18 hills under dangerous conditions.
Most importantly, he emphasized the deadly nature of their trek. Anyone who slipped faced certain death. They passed several dead bodies along the way. Injured travelers received no help and faced abandonment.
