Shackled and chained: Indian 'illegals' share harrowing experience on US deportation flight

Deportees arriving in Amritsar on a US military aircraft on Feb 5 recounted their harrowing experience, stating that they were shackled by their hands and legs throughout the journey, with restraints removed only after landing.

“We were handcuffed and our legs were chained throughout the journey. These were opened at the Amritsar airport,” said Jaspal Singh, 36, from Gurdaspur district, Punjab, who was captured by the US Border Patrol on Jan 24.

On Feb 5, 104 illegal immigrants from different states were transported by a US military plane that touched down in Amritsar.

As part of its crackdown on illegal immigration, the Trump administration has deported its first group of Indians.

33 people from Haryana, 33 from Gujarat, 30 from Punjab, three from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, and two from Chandigarh were among the deportees.

There were 13 children in the group, including two girls, ages five and seven, and a four-year-old boy, along with 19 women.

Punjabi deportees were transported from the Amritsar airport to their hometowns in police vehicles.

Jaspal was caught by the US Border Patrol after crossing the border into the US after six months in Brazil.

Two more deportees recounted the difficulties they faced en route to the United States after arriving in their hometowns of Hoshiarpur on the evening of Feb 5.

From Hoshiarpur's Tahli hamlet, Harwinder Singh said he departed for the United States in August 2024.

He traveled through Qatar, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Panama, Nicaragua, and Mexico before being taken to the US, he said.

“We crossed hills. A boat, which was taking him along with other persons, was about to capsize in the sea, but we survived,” Harwinder said.

Harwinder remembered seeing one person die in the Panama jungle and another drown at sea.

Singh mentioned that his travel agent promised a route through Europe before reaching Mexico. He spent ₹42 lakh on his journey to the US.

Another Punjabi deportee talked about his experience traveling to the US via the "donkey route."

He said their clothing, which was valued between ₹30,000 and ₹35,000, was taken during the journey.

Before being sent to Latin America, they were first transferred to Italy, the deportee clarified.

He talked about a strenuous 40–45 kilometer walk and a 15-hour boat voyage.

"We crossed 17-18 hills. If someone slipped, there was no chance of survival. We witnessed a lot, and if anyone got injured, they were left to die. We saw dead bodies," he said.