Dreams Shattered: Indian Migrants Deported from the U.S. Face Humiliation and Debt

The harsh realities of illegal migration came into sharp focus this week as 54 Indian men deported from the U.S. returned to Delhi, many recounting stories of humiliation, financial ruin, and crushed aspirations. Most were from Haryana, aged between 25 and 40, and had attempted the perilous journey via the infamous “donkey route”—a network of smuggling paths often used to cross multiple international borders illegally.

Under President Donald Trump’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants, more than 2,400 Indians have been deported from the U.S. so far in 2025. Many of those attempting these journeys finance them by selling land or taking massive loans, hoping to secure a better life abroad or support their families back home.

Harjinder Singh, a farmer, spent 3.5 million rupees ($39,624) to work as a cook in the U.S., only to be jailed for illegal entry and sent home. “My hopes have been dashed, it is a pity that I could not do anything,” he told BBC Punjabi. Singh worries about the future of his children after losing all his savings.

Naresh Kumar similarly sold land and paid 5.7 million rupees to agents promising passage to the U.S. After traveling via Brazil, he spent 14 months in jail before deportation. Rajat Pal, who traveled via Panama, described the journey as “very dangerous,” highlighting the multiple transport modes, treacherous treks, and smuggling operations that migrants endure.

The Indian government has yet to comment on this latest deportation flight, though officials stress ongoing efforts to educate citizens on safe and legal migration. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly flagged the risks of young Indians being lured abroad with false promises.

According to Indian authorities, 2,417 citizens were deported from the U.S. between January and September 2025 alone. Cases like Harjit Kaur, 73, who was handcuffed during a 40-hour deportation flight earlier this year, sparked anger within the diaspora and raised questions about U.S. deportation protocols.

With an estimated 725,000 undocumented Indians in the U.S. as of 2022, the community remains the third-largest group after Mexicans and Salvadorans. Yet, for many, the lure of the American dream comes at an enormous cost—financial debt, legal jeopardy, and emotional trauma.

This latest wave of deportations underscores the human toll of stringent immigration enforcement and the perils of unsafe migration routes that promise opportunity but often deliver hardship.