Over 50 young men from Haryana, India, have been deported by US authorities for illegally entering the country via the dangerous ‘donkey route’
Over 50 Indian youths from Haryana have been deported from the United States after they were caught entering the country through the illegal and perilous “donkey route”, a method often used by human smugglers to transport migrants across international borders. The deportees landed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, Terminal 3, on Flight OAE-4767 on Sunday, reported gujaratsamachar.com.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Sandeep from Karnal district confirmed the deportations, stating that most of the returnees had travelled through multiple countries in South and Central America before attempting to cross into the US illegally.
Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar addressed the issue, saying, “During my earlier visits around election time, I had also said that this route is not suitable for young people or families. We want the youth to find employment, improve their skills, and receive education. Wherever they need to go abroad, we guide them on legal ways — through proper passports and visas.”
The deportees include young men from several Haryana districts — 16 from Karnal, 15 from Kaithal, five from Ambala, four each from Yamuna Nagar and Kurukshetra, three from Jind, two from Sonipat, and one each from Panchkula, Panipat, Rohtak, and Fatehabad
The so-called ‘donkey route’, or kacha rasta, involves a risky journey through countries such as Ecuador, Mexico, and Guatemala, often arranged by agents who charge large sums of money, exposing migrants to exploitation, arrests, and even death.
Earlier this year, hundreds of Indians were similarly deported from the US for illegal entry. The US government has been intensifying its crackdown on undocumented immigrants, continuing a policy that began under former President Donald Trump.
Authorities in India have urged citizens, especially the youth, to avoid illegal immigration channels and to seek employment or study opportunities abroad through legitimate, safe, and government-approved means.
