US deportees share their struggles in reaching US border, journey back to India
Updated: Feb 6th, 2025
A US military aircraft carrying 104 deported individuals, who were illegally residing in the United States, landed in Amritsar on Wednesday.
One deportee from Punjab shared that their hands and legs were shackled throughout the journey and were only unshackled once the plane landed at Amritsar airport, as per reports.
The deportee, who arrived home late Thursday night, reportedly revealed that the agent he relied on to reach the US, had deceived him by promising a legal route. He informed that he was detained by the US Border Patrol on January 24.
The deportee reportedly shared that he had paid ₹30 lakh for the arrangement, expecting to travel legally with a proper visa, but the agent allegedly tricked them into crossing the border illegally.
As per reports, the deportee was initially flown to Brazil in July last year, believing the next leg of the journey to the US would also be by air. However, the agent forced them to cross borders illegally, and after six months in Brazil, they entered the US, where they were apprehended by the Border Patrol. After spending 11 days in custody, they were deported back to India, suggested the reports.
Other deportees also shared somewhat similar ordeal, stating that they had to travel through Qatar, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Panama, Nicaragua, and Mexico before illegally entering the US, and cost millions of rupees.
Earlier on Wednesday, a C-17 Globemaster aircraft from the US Air Force arrived at Amritsar airport, marking the first deportation of these individuals. This action took place just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington for talks with President Donald Trump.
Also read :
