Families regret costly gamble for a better future
The recent deportation of Indian immigrants from the US has exposed the harsh realities faced by youth who took the ‘donkey route’ — an illegal migration pathway — seeking a better life abroad. Families that once stretched their financial limits to send their children to the US now regret their decisions, relieved only by the fact that their loved ones have returned home safely.
20-year-old Akshay Saini, a resident of Kharar Alipur village in Hisar, was among those who recently returned from the US. His family initially believed he was in Kaithal for studies, but he later opted to move to the US in search of better prospects, according to his grandfather, Nihal Saini.
"We were unaware of the illegal means he used to go abroad," said Nihal. Akshay’s father, Subhash Saini, who runs a shop in Bhiwani, also declined to share details about his son’s journey. "I don’t know if he went legally or through the ‘donkey route,’" he said.
In Digoh village, Fatehabad, 24-year-old Gaganjeet, from a farmer’s family, had also ventured to the US. Village sources revealed that his family sold a portion of their land to finance his illegal passage.
"He initially went to England on a study visa in 2022 but later attempted to find work in the US to support his family," said a source. However, his dreams were cut short when he was detained and deported after months of struggle.
A similar fate befell Ajay, a youth from Chuharpur village in Jind district. His family spent Rs 40 lakh in hopes of securing a brighter future for him in the US. But Ajay was soon detained and placed in a US detention camp before being deported.
"We spent beyond our means to send him to the US," said his father, Khushi Ram. "But now, we are just relieved that he has returned home safe."
Many families in Haryana take on heavy debt or sell land to finance their children’s journeys abroad, often through unreliable agents. However, the harsh reality of detention and deportation is now making many families reconsider these choices.
