‘If anybody got injured, he was left to die’: US deportee from Punjab shares shocking journey

A deportee from Punjab shared his chilling account of the brutal 'dunki route' used to take him to the US. He shared shocking details of theft, danger, and death along the way.

The man, who spoke about his harrowing experience after being deported, said that during the journey, his clothes worth Rs 30,000-35,000 were stolen. The route began with a flight to Italy, followed by a dangerous passage through Latin America.

One of the most terrifying aspects of the journey was the 15-hour-long boat ride followed by a gruelling 40-45 km trek on foot. "We crossed 17-18 hills. If one slipped, then there would be no chance that he would survive," the deportee explained. “We have seen a lot. If anybody got injured, he was left to die. We saw dead bodies,” he added.

The horrific journey of deportees showed the extreme risks and brutal conditions migrants face while attempting to enter the US illegally. 

Earlier in the day, a C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the US Air Force landed at Amritsar airport, carrying a group of 104 deported illegal immigrants. Among them were people from Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, and other states. The deportees, including women and children, were questioned by multiple government agencies, including the Punjab Police, and intelligence officials, to check for any criminal records.

The US government’s deportation action comes just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned visit to Washington for high-level talks with President Donald Trump. The crackdown against illegal immigration has intensified under the Trump administration, with many deportees like this now returning to India after enduring life-threatening conditions on their journey.
(with PTI inputs)