Since the Trump administration took charge, the deportation of illegal immigrants from the U.S. has been on the rise. On February 5, an American military aircraft journeyed directly from Texas to Amritsar, carrying 104 Indian nationals, including 31 from Punjab. These deportations have shed light on the hazardous 'Donkey Route' taken to reach America and the many obstacles encountered by the travelers during their unauthorized entry.
Confronting Death on the Donkey Route!
In pursuit of the 'American Dream', these Indians braved dense jungles, icy weather, masked robbers, rapists, venomous snakes, injury, hunger, and threats of murder. Despite these adversities, their dreams were short-lived as they were apprehended by authorities within weeks of reaching America and deported back to India in chains on February 5.
Among the 31 returnees from Punjab, 29 have shared their accounts with the police, detailing the strategy they adopted via Mexico to reach the U.S. Their statements revealed that they exited India legally with all required documents.
Source: aajtak
Rising Numbers of Indians Heading to America
The initial destination for those heading to South America were countries with lenient visa regulations. At least eight landed in Dubai, eight in Spain, five in Italy, four in the UK, and one each in Brazil, Guyana, France, and Suriname. The infamous 'Donkey Route' is known for its perilous journeys. While it has existed for decades, its relevance grew particularly after the release of the 2023 Shah Rukh Khan film, Donkey, and the return of many Indians who attempted this route.
President Donald Trump's efforts to oust illegal immigrants brought this risky route into the spotlight. Pew Research Center data highlights a significant rise in the number of Indian nationals entering the U.S. illegally, leaping from 8,027 in 2018–2019 to 725,000 in 2022–2023.
How the Journey Begins
Outside of Latin America, India is the only country sending the most illegal immigrants to the U.S. Since 2011, the count of Indians entering the U.S. illegally has gone up by 70%. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data, the number of undocumented Indians arriving in America surged between 2020 and 2023.
This month, the journey for those deported from America begins with contacting an agent who promises safe passage to the U.S. To realize their dream of reaching America, these migrants paid agents anywhere from 4 million to 10 million rupees. Once the contract is secured, candidates are taken to countries with relatively relaxed visa requirements such as Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, or Guyana, before reaching Latin America. In some cases, agents even arranged direct visas from Dubai to Mexico.
Source: aajtak
100-Kilometer Trek Through Jungles
Reaching any Latin American country may have been the first step, yet the true danger started upon embarking on a trek through perilous jungles to the U.S.-Mexico border. To get from Colombia to Panama City, migrants undertake a 100-kilometer journey through thick jungles. Last year, approximately 250,000 individuals braved the Darien Gap—a massive jungle straddling the Colombia-Panama border—driven by dreams of reaching America. Recounting the travel route, one deportee, Gurwinder Singh, shared details of his journey that included a car trip from Guyana to Brazil and a bus ride across Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and onto Panama.
The name 'Darien Gap' comes from the 'gap' in the Pan-American Highway that connects South and Central America. Its rugged terrain makes any type of construction impossible. Migrants typically take five to nine days to walk the 106-kilometer forest path, beginning in Colombia and crossing the Panama border towards Bajo Chiquito, where they are temporarily housed in a reception center. From there, they proceed to other centers like San Vicente or Lajas Blancas before continuing northward.
Fear of Arrest and Infiltration
Travelling from Colombia to the Capurgana Island, the starting point of the Darien trek, was undertaken by boat. From there, migrants walked for days through the treacherous jungle before reaching the welcome center. The 'Dunkers', as those taking the 'Donkey Route' are nicknamed, were later packed into vegetable trucks and taken to Panama City. They continued by bus through Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala, ultimately reaching the Mexico-US border.
Gurwinder Singh explained his passage across the Mexican border via fake identity papers supplied by the agent to cross into Mexico through Musa. He then took a bus to San Coba and Tijuana before crossing into the U.S. However, many deportees were intercepted by U.S. patrols on the US-Mexico border and subsequently detained at a San Diego detention center.
Source: aajtak
The Stories of Those Who Returned
Nishant Mor from Khanpur Khurd, Haryana, set out last year with his phone to document his journey through the treacherous Darien Gap and share it on YouTube. In his six-episode series, edited completely on his phone, he recorded every step northward, showcasing the treacherous terrain and waterways—capturing the adventure through videos and selfies.
Although he reached America, February 5 marked his deportation. His journey from Haryana to New York is documented across his Instagram and YouTube channels. He shares with India Today, "America may sell dreams, but I have an audience eager to live those dreams." Nishant’s posts, photos, videos, and memes are accessible not only in Hindi but also in the multiple languages spoken by migrants arriving at America's southern border from all around the world.
