Jatinder Singh, one of the 112 undocumented Indian migrants sent back from the US to Amritsar on Sunday, recounted his harrowing experience during his two-week detention at the camp, claiming he faced abuse and was denied adequate food.
He claimed that the US Army discarded his turban (dastar) in the trash after making him remove it.
Singh, 23, expressed his desire to move abroad for work to assist his family because of limited job prospects in Amritsar.
He also claimed that he was chained for approximately 36 hours on the US military plane that transported him and 111 undocumented Indians back to Amritsar on Sunday night.
“I was put in a detention camp for two weeks after being apprehended while crossing the US border on November 27 of last year. I departed from home on September 12 of the previous year. At the detention camp, they forced me to take off my turban regardless of my protests. They claimed it was their regulation and discarded the turban in the trash,” he informed India Today TV in a special interview.
He stated that the US Army set the air conditioner to a low temperature while increasing the heater’s power, causing his skin to become dry. “I didn’t have suitable food there whatsoever.” He mentioned, “They provided me with only Lay’s chips and Frooti juice twice daily.”
Jatinder Singh stated that he met an agent in November 2024 based on his friends’ recommendations and paid Rs 50 lakh after being assured he would be taken to the US. “My family sold their entire land (1.3 acres) and I paid Rs 22 lakh to the agent upfront.” “I additionally sold the jewelry belonging to my two married sisters and settled the remaining balance with the agent,” he stated.
