The dangerous perils Indians face in their journey to the US without legal documentation | Global Updates
Reports have surfaced of Indian families freezing to death, drowning, and being kidnapped by smugglers while attempting to reach the US. The number of individuals willing to risk their lives in pursuit of this goal is on the rise.
Indians now constitute the third largest group of illegal migrants to America.
According to a 2022 report by Pew Research Centre, there are 725,000 unauthorized Indian immigrants in the US, ranking them as the third largest group after Mexicans and Salvadorans.
In the past year, the US Border Protection Agency apprehended 96,917 Indians, a number that has tripled in just two years. These are only the individuals who were caught.
Individuals are resorting to extreme measures, entrusting their lives to criminal syndicates, in order to reach American shores. Some have been abducted, and others have been killed by the very organizations that promised to smuggle them into the US.
A tragic incident in 2022 involved a couple and their two children freezing to death just a few meters from the US-Canada border, as reported by Sky News’ US affiliate NBC and other sources. Another family perished while attempting to enter the United States from Canada by boat across the St Lawrence River, as per local media.
Lucrative Operations
Trafficker Joginder said ‘If I don’t do it then someone else will’
The operation is believed to be valued at a billion dollars, with each hopeful individual paying between $50,000 to $100,000 for a chance to realize their American dream.
The trade has attracted thousands of traffickers, mainly concentrated in the northern Indian states of Punjab and Haryana.
In December, a chartered flight to Nicaragua made a stopover at Valery Airport in France. Authorities apprehended all 303 Indian passengers suspecting trafficking activities.
Joginder (pseudonym), a trafficker, revealed to Sky News: “I send around 500 individuals each season, with three seasons in a year.
“It has become a trend, almost a competition, where families are willing to sell off their assets to send their children abroad.”
Joginder mentioned that not all individuals “succeed in reaching their destination, as 10 to 12% perish on the journey or are eliminated for not meeting financial demands”.
He added: “The mafia controls the borders, and en route, numerous nefarious incidents occur, especially affecting women. It’s a painful reality, but for families losing a loved one, the suffering is amplified. Yet, the demand persists, and so does our business.”
‘Dunki Flights’
‘Dunki flights’, a Punjabi term for ‘hopping routes’, are the preferred mode of transportation.
Smugglers transport migrants to countries with lenient visa regulations like Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, or Guatemala. From there, the migrants embark on a grueling journey guided by coyotes and under the control of criminal organizations.
The routes and their challenges vary based on the amount of money paid, with payments made at predetermined stages until reaching the US border.
Indian authorities have initiated crackdowns on smuggler networks, but the speed and magnitude of the operations present significant challenges.
Ms. Upasana, a police superintendent in Kaithal, Haryana, informed Sky News: “It has become a societal trend where families take pride in sending their children abroad.
“This year alone, we have filed 46 criminal cases and arrested 75 individuals involved in these illicit activities.
“Many individuals abroad flaunt their luxurious lifestyles, enticing our youth to achieve similar aspirations through unlawful means.”
“Children emotionally blackmail their parents, saying, ‘Either I go or I die’.”
‘I had lost all hope of living’
Subhash Kumar paid a gang $50,000 and was flown to Kathmandu, where he was kidnapped, threatened and held for ransom
Subhash Kumar, a 36-year-old individual, shared his harrowing experience of attempting a ‘dunki flight’ and narrowly escaping death.
He emptied his life savings and borrowed money to pay a gang $50,000, only to be taken to Kathmandu, where he was abducted, coerced, and held captive for ransom on the outskirts of the city.
The gang utilized counterfeit documents and staged his arrival at the US border through deceptive means. His family complied with the final payment demands of the traffickers.
“Threats and intimidation were constant, leaving me feeling hopeless,” recalled Mr. Kumar.
“I yearned for a final conversation with my loved ones and believed my fate was sealed. The gang even played simulated airport announcements in the background during our calls with family, fabricating our locations.”
Ultimately, Kumar and ten others were rescued during a police operation prompted by a tip-off. However, many others are not as fortunate.
‘Killed for money’
Malkeet Singh, a 30-year-old graduate, aspired to reach the US.
The family liquidated assets and took out loans to finance his journey. His travels took him through Doha, Almaty, Istanbul, and Panama City before arriving in El Salvador.
Days later, all communication ceased. Weeks passed before the family identified his body in a video circulated on social media.
Rajiv, his younger brother, expressed, “My brother became a victim of greed and violence orchestrated by criminal syndicates. He was shot and robbed, just like many others who fell prey to these traffickers.”
The family pressed charges against the trafficker, who was arrested and imprisoned. Eventually, the extorted money was repaid.
Seeking justice, the family resorted to blood money as recompense and withdrew the case. However, for Shiv Kumar, the ordeal of finding his missing 19-year-old son Sahil persists.
The family exhausted resources to finance Sahil’s journey, but his last communication, almost a year ago, signaled his location in Libya.
Sahil Kumar’s last message – about starting the second leg of his journey – was from Libya almost a year ago
Mr. Kumar relentlessly seeks updates on migrant journeys, having pursued legal action against the trafficker who was briefly imprisoned. The family remains hopeful for closure, yearning to uncover Sahil’s fate.
“The anguish of not knowing the whereabouts of our child is unbearable,” lamented Mr. Kumar.
“Every individual deserves the closure of knowing the fate of their loved ones, yet to date, we remain uncertain about his well-being.”
Inequality Fueling the Trend
Despite India’s remarkable economic growth and status as the fifth-largest economy globally, pervasive disparity and inequity persist.
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Rampant unemployment, stagnant incomes, and rural distress coupled with the allure of the American dream have prompted many to embark on perilous journeys.
Superintendent Upasana remarked, “It’s concerning that India’s workforce, particularly the youth, is seeking opportunities abroad where suitable employment may not be readily available. Recent cases have even involved overseas individuals extorting local businesses.”
Trafficker Joginder said getting a child abroad ‘is a fashion, a competition’
In Tapachula, Mexico, a prevalent transit point for migrants, a significant number hail from India, evident in the proliferation of curry eateries in the town. Our Sky News team witnessed fresh arrivals awaiting the opportune moment to proceed.
With the looming prospect of a Trump administration, the urgency to cross borders has intensified.
Joginder remarked, “The previous restrictions imposed by Trump have instilled fear in many individuals, prompting swifter actions.”
The legal avenues for immigrating are overcrowded, cumbersome, and protracted, compelling determined individuals to pay any cost to actualize their aspirations.
“If not me, then someone else will do it. This cycle has repeated and will endure indefinitely.”
