Thu Feb 06 03:44:54 UTC 2025: ## 104 Indian Migrants Deported from US After Perilous Journey, Leaving Families in Debt

**Amritsar, India** – A US military aircraft carrying 104 Indian migrants deported from the United States landed in Amritsar on Wednesday. The deportees, including 19 women and 13 minors, endured harrowing journeys filled with peril and deception, highlighting the dangers of illegal immigration.

The migrants, hailing primarily from Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat, paid exorbitant sums – often mortgaging their homes and taking out high-interest loans – to agents who promised them work visas and a better life in America. However, these promises proved false.

Their journeys involved long flights to South America, followed by perilous sea voyages in overcrowded, unsafe boats. Many recounted harrowing experiences navigating treacherous terrain, including mountainous hikes and capsizing boats. At least two migrants died during the journey – one at sea and another in the Panama jungle. Upon reaching the US-Mexico border, many were arrested and held in dark cells for up to two weeks before deportation.

One migrant, Harvinder Singh, described a journey that began with a flight from Delhi to Qatar, then Brazil, before being transported by taxi through Colombia and Panama. He detailed the perilous boat journey across the ocean, resulting in the death of a fellow traveler. Another, Sukhpal Singh, recounted a 15-hour sea voyage and a grueling 40-45 kilometer hike through treacherous terrain where injured migrants were left behind.

The migrants’ families are now left to grapple with crushing debt and the emotional toll of their loved ones’ failed attempts at achieving the “American dream.” Many are calling for strict action against the agents who orchestrated these dangerous and ultimately futile journeys. The incident serves as a stark warning about the risks associated with illegal immigration and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals by unscrupulous agents. The large number of deportees underscores the significant issue of illegal immigration from India’s “NRI Belt,” a region known for high rates of emigration.

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