In a major crackdown on illegal immigration, the United States is set to deport 7,25,000 Indian immigrants who entered the country in search of employment. The latest wave of deportations saw 112 individuals returning to India late Sunday night, marking the third instalment of expulsions. Currently, 2,424 Indian nationals remain in U.S. detention centers awaiting deportation.
The stringent measures, which have intensified since the Trump administration’s policies, continue to impact thousands of undocumented immigrants. On February 5, a U.S. Air Force plane transported 104 Indians from Texas directly to Amritsar. Among them, 31 hailed from Punjab and 33 from Gujarat, underscoring the high migration rates from these states.
The desperation to achieve the ‘American Dream’ has driven thousands of Indians to embark on the treacherous “Donkey Route,” a dangerous pathway through Latin America to the U.S.-Mexico border. This illegal route exposes migrants to life-threatening conditions, including harsh weather, dense forests, violent robbers, sexual assaults, poisonous wildlife, and starvation.
Recent police statements from 29 of the 31 Punjabi deportees reveal that they initially left India legally before transitioning to illegal pathways. Many first arrived in countries with lenient visa regulations, such as Dubai, Spain, Italy, the UK, Brazil, Guyana, France, and Suriname, before moving further towards North America.
The term “Donkey Route” or “Dunky” in Punjabi refers to migration fraught with peril, where travellers risk their lives every moment. Though this route has existed for decades, it has gained increased attention following the 2023 release of Shah Rukh Khan’s film Dunky and a surge in deportations from the U.S.
The scale of illegal immigration is staggering. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 96,917 Indians were caught or expelled at the U.S. border in 2023, compared to 30,662 in 2021. The actual number of those who successfully crossed remains uncertain.
Human traffickers often smuggle Indian migrants from New Delhi and Mumbai to the United Arab Emirates on tourist visas before routing them through Latin America. Common transit points include Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. Upon reaching the U.S.-Mexico border, handlers coach migrants on fabricated asylum claims, citing economic hardship, religious persecution, or LGBTQ+ discrimination.
An U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson acknowledged the ongoing challenge, stating, “Smugglers and criminals often mislead targeted migrants by spreading misinformation.”
Many Indian migrants who take the Donkey Route invest their entire family savings, with some spending up to Rs 85 lakh on the journey. Despite the high risks, families often encourage migration due to the financial returns. Some deported migrants reported earning around $100 a day in low-wage jobs such as gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants. Remittances from undocumented Indian workers in the U.S. have been substantial, with families back home receiving up to Rs 2,00,000 monthly.
However, the challenges of undocumented life in America are severe. Loneliness, depression, and mental health struggles are common among new arrivals, compounded by the fear of arrest and deportation.
Muzaffar Chishti, a senior fellow at the U.S.-based Migration Policy Institute, highlights the contradiction in the U.S. immigration system: “We detain millions at the border but lack the capacity to process them. Migrants, and their smugglers, are well aware of this gap.”
Additionally, the U.S. labour market has an ongoing demand for undocumented workers, further fuelling illegal immigration. “The question is, is there a way to make it safer for these migrants?” asks Inna Ganguly, an economics professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, citing the example of structured labour migration systems in countries like the Philippines.
As the deportations continue, the plight of thousands of Indian migrants hangs in the balance. While authorities crack down on illegal routes, the persistent demand for labour and economic aspirations of Indian youth ensure that the Donkey Route remains active. The challenge ahead is to find a solution that balances immigration control with human rights and economic realities.