Deportations no deterrent for youth cherishing foreign dreams

The recent deportation of 131 Punjabis from the USA seems to have had little impact on the aspirations of rural youth in Punjab. This was evident during the Hola Mohalla celebrations in Anandpur Sahib, where trailers adorned with US flags, along with bikes and cars flaunting Canadian flags, made their way from Jalandhar and Amritsar.

Despite tightened immigration laws in countries like the US, Canada and Australia, the fervour for settling abroad remains strong. Even as local colleges report witnessing steady admissions, the students say they are adopting a “wait and watch” approach, hoping for future relaxations in immigration policies.

“I know people who were deported, but that doesn’t scare me as they had gone illegally. The lack of job opportunities here and the rampant corruption make me want to build a better life abroad,” said Gurpreet Singh of Shahkot, who recently completed his graduation.

Similarly, Manpreet Kaur from Jalandhar, who is preparing for her IELTS exam, said, “The dream of living in Canada or the US is still alive. I am willing to wait for as long as it takes for immigration policies to ease and the situation to get better.”

An immigration agent who wished not to be named said, “The desperation to escape unemployment and economic stagnation in Punjab has driven many youngsters to seek better opportunities abroad, often taking risks with unauthorised immigration routes. However, the growing number of deportations has done little to discourage others from following the same path.”

He said that the government’s failure to address corruption and create jobs was pushing them out. “If they had better options here, they wouldn’t be looking for ways to leave,” he added.

“As long as the allure of better wages and a higher standard of living continues to outshine the hardships faced at home, the craze for foreign shores is unlikely to wane among Punjab’s youth,” said Harpreet Singh, a farmer from Kapurthala.