Gurpreet Singh found himself in restraints as he was led onto the tarmac in Texas by US Border Patrol towards a awaiting C-17 military transport aircraft. It was February 3rd, and after a lengthy journey, his aspirations of living in America came crashing down as he was being deported back to India. “It felt like the ground was slipping away from underneath my feet,” he recalled.
Gurpreet, aged 39, was among the numerous Indians who had invested their life savings and traveled across continents to reach the US illegally through its southern border, seeking to escape the employment crisis in their homeland. According to the latest data from Pew Research in 2022, there are approximately 725,000 undocumented Indian immigrants in the US – the third-largest group after Mexicans and El Salvadoreans.
As one of the initial undocumented Indians to be repatriated since President Donald Trump assumed office with a focus on mass deportations, Gurpreet had aimed to seek asylum based on threats he claimed to have faced in India. However, following an executive order by Trump to deny asylum hearings, he was deported without his case being reviewed.
During President Biden’s term, around 3,700 Indians were deported on charter and commercial flights. Yet, the circulating images of detainees in restraints under the Trump administration provoked outrage in India. Gurpreet and others were confined in restraints for over 40 hours, with even women bound in a similar manner. The severe treatment faced by the deportees triggered protests in parliament and criticism from opposition parties.
Gurpreet highlighted the need for the Indian government to intervene on their behalf and urged for a more humane deportation process. While the Indian foreign ministry raised concerns with the US, resulting in women deportees no longer being restrained, the fear instilled by the images and Trump’s rhetoric seemed to deter future attempts to enter the US through illegal means.
The impact of continued deportations and the response from Indian authorities, especially towards local “agents” involved in facilitating illegal immigration, remains uncertain. Gurpreet recounted the challenges faced upon his return to India, emphasizing the desperation that led them to take such risks. Amidst official statistics reporting a low unemployment rate, the ground reality for many Indians paints a more precarious situation.
Twenty-two percent of workers receive regular salaries, with the majority being self-employed and nearly a fifth classified as “unpaid helpers”, which includes women working in family businesses. Gurpreet, who supports his wife, mother, and 18-month-old baby, expressed his struggle to make ends meet in India: “We only leave India because we have no choice. If I could find a job paying just 30,000 rupees (£270/$340) a month, my family would manage. I never would have considered leaving otherwise,” he shared. Despite the theoretical economic outlook, he emphasized the lack of work opportunities on the ground, stating, “There are no prospects for us to work or start a business here.”
Gurpreet’s trucking company, heavily reliant on cash transactions, suffered greatly when the Indian government abruptly withdrew 86% of the currency in circulation. Unable to collect payments from clients and lacking funds to sustain the business, he faced similar challenges with another venture managing logistics for companies, which failed due to the Covid lockdown. Gurpreet attempted to obtain visas for Canada and the UK, but his applications were denied. Eventually, he resorted to utilizing his savings, selling his land, and borrowing money from relatives to accumulate 4 million rupees ($45,000/£36,000) to pay a smuggler for his journey.
Beginning his odyssey on August 28, 2024, Gurpreet flew from India to Guyana in South America, commencing a grueling expedition to the US. He meticulously recounted his arduous voyage through countries like Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, predominantly relying on buses, cars, boats, and sporadically flights, as he transitioned between various people-smugglers, enduring detentions and releases by authorities along the way.
Encountering challenges in Colombia, where he was prevented from boarding a flight to Mexico, Gurpreet was compelled to trek through the perilous Darién Gap, a dense rainforest teeming with hazards like accidents, illnesses, and criminal threats. Despite the daunting trek that claimed the lives of many attempting the passage, Gurpreet navigated the challenging terrain with resolve, relying on a smuggler’s guidance, nicknamed “donkers” by migrants.
Surviving the grueling journey through jungles and rivers, Gurpreet eventually found himself in a makeshift detention center in Panama, alongside approximately 150 others. Following a 20-day detainment, he continued his journey through Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala before arriving in Mexico, where he waited for nearly a month.
Gurpreet’s Journey: A Tale of Hope and Disappointment
In search of a better life, Gurpreet embarked on a perilous journey that led him to the border near San Diego, with dreams of crossing into the United States. “We didn’t scale a wall. There is a mountain near it which we climbed over. And there’s a razor wire which the donker cut through,” he recounted, revealing the challenges he faced to reach his destination.
On January 15th, just five days before President Trump’s term ended, Gurpreet entered the US, hoping to secure his place before the borders tightened under the new administration. Surrendering to the US Border Patrol in San Diego, he was soon detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), beginning a new chapter in his quest for a better future.
Under the Biden administration, Gurpreet and others like him underwent a preliminary interview with an immigration officer to determine their eligibility for asylum. While many Indians sought refuge in the US due to economic hardships, others fled persecution based on their religious beliefs, social status, or sexual orientation.
For Gurpreet, the process of seeking asylum meant waiting for a decision from an immigration judge, a period that could stretch on for years. Despite the uncertainty, he held onto the hope of building a new life in America, envisioning a future working at a grocery store and eventually venturing into the trucking business.
However, Gurpreet’s aspirations were abruptly shattered when, less than three weeks after his arrival, he was escorted towards a C-17 plane that would transport him back to his starting point. The harsh reality of deportation hit hard as he faced the prospect of returning to Sultanpur Lodhi, a town in Punjab, where he now struggles to find work to repay his debts and support his family.
Gurpreet’s story reflects the complexities and challenges faced by migrants seeking a better life in a foreign land. Despite his determination and resilience, he found himself caught in a web of immigration policies that offered him a glimmer of hope only to dash his dreams in the end.
As Gurpreet navigates the uncertainties of his future, his journey serves as a poignant reminder of the harsh realities faced by those who dare to seek a better life beyond their borders. The road to a new beginning is often fraught with obstacles, testing the courage and resilience of individuals like Gurpreet who dare to dream of a brighter tomorrow.
In the quiet confines of his home in Sultanpur Lodhi, Gurpreet’s hopes may have been dimmed, but his spirit remains unbroken as he faces the challenges that lie ahead. The echoes of his journey resonate far beyond the borders, reminding us of the human cost of seeking refuge and the unwavering determination of those who refuse to give up on their dreams.
