Dreams Dashed: The Cost of Deportation

A wave of deportations from the United States has left many Indian migrants disillusioned and financially drained. Among them, Harjinder Singh from Ambala recounts a journey marked by peril and expense, spending Rs 35 lakh to pursue a better life abroad.

The group of deportees, mostly aged between 25-40, were part of the latest batch sent back to India. They had sought out the 'donkey route' to enter the US, driven by the desire for improved opportunities. Many had sold land or borrowed heavily to afford the move, only to have their dreams shattered.

The deportations come as a result of an intensified crackdown on illegal immigration under the Trump administration. The migrants returned to their homes in Haryana, their financial losses and personal sacrifices stark reminders of the risks involved in such attempts.