“Indian Deportees Speak Out: ‘We Were Handcuffed, Didn’t Know We Were Being Sent to India’
Amritsar: In a shocking revelation, a group of 104 Indian nationals deported from the United States on Wednesday shared their harrowing experiences of being shackled and transported like prisoners. The deportees, who had entered the US illegally, arrived in Amritsar at 1:55 PM aboard a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft.
Inhuman Treatment During Deportation
According to the deportees, they were captured by US Border Patrol agents and remained in chains throughout their journey. Many were unaware they were being sent back to India until they were mid-air.
“We were not aware that we were being taken to India. We thought we were being transported to another detention centre,” said Jaspal Singh, one of the deported immigrants. “We were handcuffed and in shackles the entire time.”
A video shared by US Border Patrol on social media showed Indian deportees with their legs shackled, walking in a queue while boarding the military aircraft. The agency described the mission as the “farthest deportation flight yet using military transport,” emphasizing their commitment to enforcing immigration laws.
The Dark Side of Illegal Immigration
Many of the deportees recounted being lured by unscrupulous travel agents who promised safe and legal entry into the US in exchange for large sums of money. However, their journeys turned into nightmares, filled with treacherous routes, deception, and financial losses.
Jaspal Singh revealed he paid ₹30 lakh to an agent who assured him legal entry into the US but instead left him stranded and vulnerable. Another deportee, Harwinder Singh, described his perilous journey through multiple countries, including Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Panama, and Nicaragua, before finally reaching the US.
“At one point, the boat carrying us nearly drowned. We barely survived,” Harwinder said. His desperate attempt to reach the US ultimately cost him around ₹42 lakh.
Crackdown on Illegal Immigration
The deported individuals included 33 from Haryana, 33 from Gujarat, 30 from Punjab, three from Maharashtra, three from Uttar Pradesh, and two from Chandigarh. Among them were 19 women and 13 children, including a four-year-old boy and two girls aged five and seven.
This mass deportation highlights the US government’s intensified crackdown on illegal immigration. With increasing risks and financial losses, experts urge aspiring migrants to opt for legal pathways instead of falling prey to deceptive agents.
The Indian government is now expected to assist the deported individuals in resettling while also cracking down on fraudulent immigration agents who exploit desperate individuals seeking a better future abroad.
