'Walked 40-45km, abandoned those injured...': Indian deportees share ordeal
What's the story
A total of 104 Indians were deported from the United States Tuesday night on a military aircraft as US President Donald Trump makes migration control a top priority. They reached Amritsar on Wednesday.
On reaching the city, the deportees narrated the horrific, unfruitful journey they had to undertake to reach the US.
This is the first batch of Indians repatriated under US.
The deportees hailed from Haryana (33), Gujarat (33), Punjab (30), Maharashtra (3), Uttar Pradesh (3) and Chandigarh (2).
Dangerous journey
Deportees recount harrowing journey to US
One deportee Harvinder Singh said he paid ₹42 lakh for a work visa. But he was informed at last minute that his visa did not arrive and later placed on flights from Delhi until Qatar and finally Brazil.
"In Brazil, I was told I will be put on a flight from Peru, but there was no such flight. Then taxis took us...to Colombia and...Panama. From there, I was told a ship will transport us, but there was no ship either."
Journey
Donkey route lasted two days
From Panama was where the the donkey route, which lasted two days, began, he told reporters.
He described a perilous trek through mountains and a boat journey that capsized resulting in two deaths.
Another deportee Sukhpal Singh from Darapur village recalled walking 40-45km through treacherous terrain and passing by many dead bodies.
"If someone got injured, they were left to die. We saw many dead bodies on the way," he said.
Harsh conditions
Arrests and detentions mark migrants' journey
"We were lodged in a dark cell for 14 days, and we never saw the sun. There are thousands of Punjabi boys, families and children in similar circumstances," Sukhpal added.
He was arrested in Mexico just before crossing into the US and kept in a dark cell for 14 days.
Jaspal Singh from Gurdaspur district said he was handcuffed and shackled on his deportation flight back to India after spending six months in Brazil.
Financial burden
Deportees' families face financial crisis, seek action against agents
The families of the deportees are now burdened with huge debts taken to fund their kin's journeys.
Many had mortgaged properties or taken loans at exorbitant interest rates, hoping for a better future abroad.
"Not only has my husband been deported we are also left with a huge debt," Harvinder's wife said.
The deportees have urged others not to take such risky routes to migrate abroad, and demanded action against fraudulent agents who prey on people looking for overseas opportunities.