They braved endless stretches of dark jungles, freezing temperatures, masked robbers, rapists, snakebites, injuries, hunger, and the constant threat of murder. All of this for a chance to live the American dream! Yet, their dreams were tragically short-lived. Just weeks after arriving in the US, 104 of them found themselves apprehended by authorities and returned home—handcuffed—on a military plane on February 5.
The Journey Begins: Legal Yet Risky
At least 29 of the returnees, primarily from Punjab, have shared their harrowing tales with the police, detailing the steps they took to reach America through Mexico. Their statements reveal that they left India via legal channels, equipped with all necessary documentation.
Their first stops involved countries with lenient visa regulations, allowing them to reach South America. Eight migrants landed in Dubai, eight more in Spain, and others in Italy, the UK, Brazil, Guyana, France, and Suriname.
The Dunki Route: A Perilous Migration Journey
The infamous “Dunki” or “donkey” route has long been associated with hazardous journeys. Recently, it gained renewed attention following the release of Shah Rukh Khan’s 2023 movie and the deportation of several Indians who used this route to reach the US. As US immigration policies tighten, the perilous migration journey through this route has become a focal point.
In just four years, illegal entries of Indian citizens into the US surged dramatically—from 8,027 in 2018–2019 to 725,000 in 2022–2023, according to Pew Research Center data. India stands out as the only nation in the top five sources of immigration to the US outside Latin America. Since 2011, the number of undocumented Indians has increased by 70%. Figures from US Customs and Border Protection indicate that undocumented Indian immigrants rose sharply between 2020 and 2023.
The Cost of Dreams: Agents and Fees
For this month’s deportees, the journey often begins with reaching out to an agent, who promises to facilitate their migration to the US. Migrants typically pay agents between Rs 40 lakh and Rs 1 crore for this service. Once they secure a contract, their path usually leads them to countries with favorable visa requirements before arriving in Latin America—such as Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, or Guyana. In some cases, agents even arrange direct visas for Mexico from Dubai.
The Treacherous Trek Through the Darien Gap
However, reaching Latin America is just the beginning. The real challenge lies in the perilous migration journey through the treacherous jungles leading to the US-Mexico border. The Darien Gap, notorious for its rugged terrain, stretches over 106 kilometers from Colombia to Panama. Migrants typically spend five to nine days hiking through dense rainforests, facing numerous dangers along the way.
Last year, nearly 250,000 people crossed the Darien Gap, many hoping to reach the United States. One deportee, Gurvinder Singh, shared that they were transported by car from Guyana to Brazil, then traveled through Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador before heading to Colombia.
The Final Steps: Crossing Borders
From Colombia, they took a boat to Capurganá Island, the starting point of the Darien trek. After days of navigating through the dangerous jungles, they reached a migrant reception center. The aspirants, known as donkers, were then loaded into vegetable lorries and transported to Panama City. Their journey continued by bus through Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala, eventually reaching the Mexico-US border.
Gurvinder Singh recounted using a fake identity document to cross the Mexican border. Despite reaching the United States, many found their journey halted by border patrol, leading to detention at centers .
