Mandeep Singh’s hopes for a better life in the United States turned into a nightmare as he endured a perilous journey through crocodile-infested waters, days without food, and the forced trimming of his beard before being arrested and deported.
Singh, 38, from Amritsar, was among 116 Indians deported by a US military aircraft that landed at Amritsar airport on Saturday night—the second such batch of deportees following the US administration’s intensified crackdown on illegal immigration.
Another 112 Indians arrived on Sunday night in a third deportation flight.
Speaking to mediapersons in Amritsar, Singh revealed how his journey began last August when a travel agent promised legal entry into the US for a fee of Rs 40 lakh.
"When I spoke to my agent, he said within one month I will be taken to the US in a legal way," Singh said, explaining that the sum was paid in two instalments.
His route began with a flight from Amritsar to Delhi, followed by stops in Mumbai, Nairobi, and Amsterdam. From there, he travelled to Suriname, where sub-agents demanded an additional Rs 20 lakh, which his family paid.
The journey from Suriname quickly turned hazardous.
"From Suriname, we boarded a vehicle which was cramped with many people like me. We were taken to Guyana. From there it was non-stop travel for days. We crossed Guyana, then Bolivia before reaching Ecuador," he recalled.
Singh described the most dangerous stretch—the Panama jungle crossing—where travellers faced both physical and emotional threats.
"Here we were told by fellow travellers that if we ask too many questions, we could be shot. For 13 days, we moved through the treacherous route that included 12 canals. Crocodiles, snakes – we had to bear all. Some were given sticks to deal with the dangerous reptiles," Singh recounted.
Also read: Indians nationals deported from US begin journey to home states
Food was scarce. "We ate half-baked 'rotis' and sometimes noodles, as proper food was a distant thing. We used to travel 12 hours a day," he said.
The group rested briefly in Costa Rica before continuing through Honduras and Nicaragua, where food was almost nonexistent.
"In Guatemala, however, we were lucky to get some curd rice to eat. By the time we reached Tijuana, my beard was trimmed forcibly," Singh said.
It was in Tijuana, on the Mexican side of the border, where the journey came to an abrupt end.
"On the morning of January 27, they arrested us. The authorities told us that we will be deported. We were put in a detention centre for some days before we were sent back," he said.
His arrest came shortly before the US administration escalated its deportation drive.
On 5 February, 104 Indians were flown back to Amritsar in the first such operation, followed by the latest batch of 116 on Saturday and another 112 on Sunday.
Singh’s account highlights the continuing risks faced by those attempting illegal migration via the ‘donkey route’—an illicit and often perilous path used by human traffickers to smuggle migrants across borders.
The US government has increased efforts to curb illegal crossings, resulting in mass deportations and heightened scrutiny of migration networks operating in India and abroad.
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