A family of four from Naroda who were deported from the United States have recounted their shattered dreams and journey to the US via France in an exclusive interview to Gujarat Samachar Digital.

Hardik Dashrath Patel, his wife Swati Hardik Patel, son Henil and daughter Disha, residents of Tulsi Residency in Nava Naroda were among the 29 Gujaratis who arrived in the third flight from Amritsar to Ahmedabad on Monday afternoon.

The Patels had left their home on January 2, 2025, with dreams of making a bright future in America.

Upon arrival in the US via France where they flew in from India, they were kept in a camp with other Indians awaiting deportation. Swati Patel expressed distress over the lack of food options, stating, “We were only provided non-vegetarian food, which was difficult for many of us.”

The Patel family revealed that several families were put up at a camp by the US authorities.

Talking about the families at the camp, Swati Patel said, “They had endured extreme hardship as they walked for four days straight with their children in pursuit of their American dream. Some of their fellow travellers even attempted to reach the US through perilous ocean routes.” However, they had travelled by flight, she added.

According to Swati, when they boarded the aircraft, they were unaware that they were being sent back to India. “We were not handcuffed by the US authorities, but we had no idea that we were being deported to India,” she said.

About how they left abroad, the Patels told Gujarat Samachar Digital that the agent who facilitated their journey was one Mangaldas Patel from Mehsana. However, they didn’t mention how much they had spent on their journey. Their revelation sheds light on the illegal immigration network that continues to lure migrants with false promises.

Another family from Naroda that was brought back from the US are Tushar Patel, his wife Chetana and their son Neet. Residents of Nilkanth Villa in Nava Naroda, they too had arrived on the flight from Amritsar on Monday afternoon. Tushar and his family had reached the US in December, according to his friend.

Tushar’s family was dead against talking to the media. However, a friend of Patel, on condition of anonymity, told Gujarat Samachar Digital that Tushar had embarked on his American dream two months ago unbeknownst to anyone close, including his paralysed mother. Family and friends were told that Tushar, his wife and son, were going on a Dubai trip.

However, they had contacted an agent and had paid more than ₹25 lakh to enter the US. For the past one-and-a-half months, there was no contact between the deportee and his family.

After returning to his house at Nilkanth Villa, Tushar was later seen leaving his residence in a car.

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