Daler Singh’s six-month journey to the United States ended in heartbreak last month. With dreams of a better life, Singh spent nearly $45,000 and mortgaged family assets to fund his illegal immigration attempt. But just three weeks after arriving in the US, Singh was deported back to India, bound in handcuffs and leg chains on a military plane, as part of a larger group of 105 deportees.
On Wednesday, US authorities carried out a high-profile deportation, fulfilling one of President Donald Trump’s key promises. However, the move has led to embarrassment for India, especially as Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares for a visit to Washington next week.
“I have lost everything — my life savings, my dreams,” Singh said from his home in Salempura, a village in Punjab. “No one should take the illegal route or fall for the promises of agents. People should go through the visa process.”
Singh’s harrowing journey began in August when he flew to Dubai and then made the dangerous trek through Mexico to reach the US. After being detained by US authorities on January 15, Singh and others were put on a C-17 Globemaster military aircraft for their return to India.
The deportation, which included people from five Indian states and the federal territory of Chandigarh, has sparked backlash from opposition parties in India, questioning the Modi government’s ties with the US. The deportees, aged between 4 and 46, were restrained with handcuffs and leg chains throughout their flight.
Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar explained that restraining deportees is standard practice by US immigration authorities, though women and children were not shackled during the journey. He also emphasized India’s crackdown on the illegal migration industry, urging stronger measures to prevent such incidents while making it easier for legitimate travelers to secure visas.
Singh’s story is just one example of the harsh realities of illegal immigration. Another deportee, Akashdeep Singh, shared how his family sold land and took loans to fund his illegal trip. His father, Swaran Singh, explained the desperate search for opportunities abroad, saying, “Why would we send our children outside? There are no jobs here.”
