Deportees from USA say they were handcuffed and chained

The dream of a better life in the U.S. turned into a nightmare for 116 Indians deported from America. Stranded in detention camps, shackled during deportation, and left without options upon return, these individuals now seek government support to rebuild their futures.

BY PC Bureau

Amid US President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration, 116 Indians were deported from the United States, arriving in Amritsar on the second such deportation flight Saturday night.

Upon arrival, several deportees recounted harrowing experiences during their detention and subsequent deportation. Daljit Singh, from Kurala Kalan village in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district, claimed, “Our legs were chained, and hands were also cuffed.” These accounts have raised concerns about the treatment of detainees during the deportation process.

Many had endured harrowing journeys through dense forests, treacherous seas, and multiple countries, having spent lakhs of rupees in the hope of reaching the US.

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Mangal Singh Thind, who came to receive his grandson Jasnoor Singh, recounted the nightmare his family faced. “The agent promised a direct entry to the US, but my grandson was instead taken to Colombia, stranded there for over three months, and then forced to cross treacherous jungles in Panama. When we spoke to him, he was exhausted and covered in scratches. We deeply regret sending him,” he told NDTV.

#WATCH | Amritsar, Punjab: A family member of one of the illegal Indian immigrants deported by the US, says, “…He reached the US on 27th January…They sold their land…They are staying at their relative’s house…We have spent Rs 50-55 lakhs…” pic.twitter.com/uFn4y38dI6

— ANI (@ANI) February 15, 2025

Ferozepur resident Sourav, another deportee, was caught just hours after crossing into the US. His journey, which began on January 17, cost his family ₹45 lakh. Instead of a safe passage, he was shuffled through Malaysia, Mumbai, Amsterdam, Panama, and Mexico before attempting to cross the border on foot. Once detained, he spent over two weeks in a US camp where, he claims, no one heard his appeals. “Our hands and legs were tied, our phones confiscated. We only learned about our deportation once we were on the flight,” he said.

Another deportee, Gurbachan Singh, had been sent abroad by his father Jatinder Pal Singh, who spent ₹50 lakh to secure his son’s future. Instead, he was forced to take the perilous “donkey route,” trudging through forests strewn with dead bodies. Now back in India, Gurbachan hopes for any form of employment.

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The returnees, many from Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat, now face financial ruin. Families like Sourav’s, who sold their land and took loans, are left with no savings and no prospects. Thind has urged the Punjab government to provide jobs for those who have been deported.

This marks the second mass deportation under Trump’s administration. The first flight, carrying 104 Indians, landed on February 5, while a third flight with 157 deportees is expected to arrive on Sunday.

The deportees, primarily from Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat, undertook perilous journeys facilitated by unscrupulous agents, often referred to as the “donkey route.” This illicit pathway led them through multiple countries, including Malaysia, Panama, and Mexico, with the promise of entering the U.S. Many families invested substantial sums, ranging from ₹45 lakh to ₹50 lakh, hoping for a better future for their loved ones.