Since the Trump administration came into power, undocumented immigrants have been steadily repatriated from the USA. On February 5th, a US Air Force plane carried 104 Indians from Texas directly to Amritsar. Among the illegal entrants, 31 were from Punjab. The narrative unveiled the intricacies of the 'donkey route' they undertook to reach America illegally, revealing the hardships encountered along the way.
Facing Death on the 'Donkey Route'
In pursuit of the 'American Dream', these individuals endured dense forests, icy weather, masked robbers, potential rapists, venomous snakes, wounds, hunger, and threats of murder. Their dreams, however, were short-lived as they were apprehended shortly after arrival and deported back to India on February 5th with handcuffs.
At least 29 of the 31 returnees disclosed to the police their harrowing journey, revealing the procedural adoption of Mexican routes to access the United States. Their accounts reflected that they departed India with all necessary documents in a legal manner.
Source: aajtak
Increase in Indians Heading to America
South American destinations with lenient visa policies acted as their initial stopover. At least eight disembarked in Dubai, eight in Spain, five in Italy, four in the UK, and one each in Brazil, Guyana, France, and Suriname. The notorious 'donkey route', famed for risky travels, has been in existence for decades but gained attention after the release of the 2023 film 'Donkey' starring Shahrukh Khan. It became more prominent as several Indian migrants were sent back from this route post-its release.
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The highly risky route to America came into the spotlight after President Donald Trump enforced the deportation of illegal immigrants from the country. Pew Research Center data reflects a significant spike in the number of Indian citizens illegally entering the US, rising sharply from 8,027 in the 2018-2019 period to 725,000 in 2022-2023.
How This Journey Commences
Outside Latin America, India ranks as the primary source of illegal migrants to the US. Since 2011, the number of Indians entering illegally has risen by 70%. According to US Customs and Border Protection, between 2020 and 2023, there has been a dramatic increase in undocumented Indians crossing into America.
The journey initially begins by contacting an agent promising to secure their passage to the US. These migrants pay between 4 million to 10 million rupees. Once the deal is settled, candidates are flown to countries with lenient visa necessities, prior to setting foot in Latin America. Entrants are often taken through countries like Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, or Guyana before reaching Latin America. Occasionally, agents directly arrange Mexican visas from Dubai.
Source: aajtak
The 100 km Jungle Trek
Arriving at a Latin American nation marks only the beginning and potentially the easiest task. Here, migrants embarked on perilous journeys through dense jungles toward the US-Mexico border. Departing from Colombia, they traversed nearly 100 kilometers through forested terrains to get to Panama City. Last year, around 250,000 individuals traversed the Darien Gap. This expansive jungle stretching across the Colombia-Panama Border is where they set forth in pursuit of American shores. Exiled traveler Gurvinder Singh narrated the account, highlighting their conveyance from Guyana to Brazil by car, later reaching Colombia through Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador by bus.
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Derian Gap derives its name from the 'gap' within the Pan-American Highway, linking South and Central America. The rugged terrain hinders any form of construction across it. Typically, migrants endure hikes on the 106-kilometer path through forests, spending five to nine days from Colombia toward Panama's border, eventually reaching Bajo Chiquito where they are accommodated in reception centers. Post this, journeys resume north to other centers like San Vicente or Las Blancas before proceeding.
The Fear of Arrest and Infiltration
The trip from Colombia to the island of Capurganá, initiating the Darien Trek, took place by boat. Engaging in lengthy treks through treacherous and inhospitable forests, they reached the welcoming center of Darién Gap. Individuals embracing the 'donkey route', labeled as dunkers, were transported through vegetable trucks to Panama City. From there, they traveled via bus through Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala, eventually venturing to the Mexico-US border.
Gurvinder Singh expressed concern over crossing the Mexican border through Musa by utilizing a fake ID granted by their agent. Post this, buses facilitated his travel to Mexican cities like Sancoba and Tijuana, culminating in America. Numerous journeys concluded with detentions by patrol forces along the US-Mexico border, followed by confinements at San Diego centers.
Source: aajtak
The Stories of the Returned
Nishant Mor from Khanpur Khurd, Haryana, embarked on a quest with his phone last year, planning to document his journey through the perilous Darian Gap for his YouTube channel. His six-episode series, entirely edited on his phone, depicts his northern advancement with a backpack, showcasing videos and selfies capturing treacherous rivers, muddy woods, and the infamous mountain path 'Muerte Hill'.
Despite reaching America, he was deported on February 5th. His YouTube and Instagram accounts illustrate his detailed expedition from Haryana to New York. Nishant informed India Today, “America sells dreams, and I have an audience that lives this dream.” His posts, photos, videos, and memes not only resonate in Hindi but are also available in various languages of migrants arriving at America's southern borders.
