Deported from US: Punjab girl who went to marry fiancé, bus driver who paid Rs 30 lakh

Some had arrived in the US just months ago and were yet to apply for asylum before being detained and deported.

A US military aircraft carrying 104 deported Indians landed at Amritsar’s Shri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport on Wednesday, leaving families heartbroken and uncertain about their future.

Many of the deportees, mostly from Punjab, had spent between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 50 lakh to reach the US through illegal routes. Some had arrived in the US just months ago and were yet to apply for asylum before being detained and deported.

Here are the stories from some of the deportees:

Among them was Sukhjeet Kaur, a 26-year-old from Verpal village in Punjab. She had travelled to the US to marry her fiancé but was detained before the wedding could take place. Her father, Kabul Singh, lives in Italy, while her mother and brother are in Punjab.

Quoting a relative, the Indian Express reported that Sukhjeet completed her schooling but fell victim to an agent who facilitated her illegal entry into the US, which led to her deportation.

Charanjit Singh from Amritsar came to receive his grandson, Ajaydeep Singh, who had gone to the US just 15 days ago. “I didn’t support the decision to send him, but I don’t know what has gone wrong with the youth these days,” he said.

Daler Singh from Salempur village in Amritsar had been a bus driver before he paid Rs 30 lakh to reach the US a month ago. His family lost contact with him for 15 days until they received a call from the police informing them about his return.

Swarn Singh, a farmer owning around 2.5 to 3 acres of land, financed his son Akashdeep’s journey. After failing to secure a study visa, Akashdeep went to Dubai to work as a truck driver. Later, he decided to try his luck in the US through an agent in Dubai. Swarn Singh spent nearly Rs 60 lakh, including expenses in Dubai, to support his son’s journey. Despite the financial setback, he expressed relief at his son’s safe return. “Money comes and goes, but the important thing is that my son is home safely,” he said.

Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal assured that the state government would support those who have been deported. He plans to propose in the Cabinet meeting on February 10 that banks waive interest on loans taken by families to fund US migration.