A 21-year-old woman from Jagraon in Punjab, who was deported to India after travelling on a study visa to the United Kingdom and then crossed the US border illegally. The deportation came as a shock to her as she only became aware of it while on a plane to Amritsar.

The woman had travelled to the UK in January 2024 to pursue a business course. During her vacation in January 2025, she decided to visit Mexico. From there, she crossed the Tijuana border into the United States along with around 50 people, primarily women from different parts of the world. After crossing the border, they were transported to a camp where they stayed for ten days, as per reports.

Although there were no visible security personnel at the Tijuana border, surveillance cameras likely tracked their movement. Upon reaching the US camp, their belongings and phones were confiscated, and they were given specific outfits to wear. 

Despite being detained, the US security personnel reportedly treated them respectfully and ensured their comfort.

On January 3, the detainees were informed that they would be taken to another border for release. They spent three days on a US military plane, stopping at an undisclosed location. Although restrained with handcuffs and chains, they were treated courteously and allowed to eat comfortably. It was only during the flight that they realised they were being sent to India, which left many of them disheartened.

The woman had not communicated with her family since January 25, and her relatives learned of her deportation through a family member in Australia. Upon arriving in Amritsar, she allegedly said that Indian security personnel were rude and treated them as though they were criminals.

Her family remains in shock over the incident, expressing concern about the financial loss and her dashed aspirations. 

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