‘Donkey Route’ crackdown: 54 Haryana youths deported from US for illegal entry

The deportees arrived at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) on Flight OAE-4767 late Saturday night

The United States, last week, deported 54 Indian nationals from Haryana for allegedly entering the country illegally through the “Donkey Route". The deportees arrived at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) on Flight OAE-4767 late Saturday night, according to officials.

According to police, 16 of the deported individuals are from Karnal, 15 from Kaithal, five from Ambala, four each from Yamuna Nagar and Kurukshetra, three from Jind, two from Sonipat, and one each from Panchkula, Panipat, Rohtak, and Fatehabad. Most of them are between 25 and 40 years old.

Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, responding to the development on Monday, noted, “I am aware of this issue. I have repeatedly said this route is not safe for our youth. We want them to pursue education, develop skills, and go abroad through legal channels. The government provides assistance in obtaining passports and visas for legitimate travel.”

Karnal Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sandeep Kumar confirmed that the individuals had attempted to enter the US illegally and were deported after being detained by American authorities.

“Today, more Indians were deported from the United States, including about 50 from Haryana. Around 16 of them belong to Karnal district. They entered the US through illegal routes but have now been brought back and handed over to their families,” he said.

The police stated that no complaints regarding human trafficking agents have been received so far. However, investigations are underway to determine whether any of the deportees have criminal records or were misled by illegal immigration networks.

Officials have also urged citizens not to fall prey to agents promising unlawful migration opportunities.

Kaithal Superintendent of Police (SP) Upasana said that 14 youths from her district have been deported and handed over to their families after background verification. “All necessary inquiries are being conducted,” she added.

The deportations come amid a wider crackdown on illegal immigration by the Trump administration, which has ramped up enforcement measures since Donald Trump took office earlier this year.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the US has deported 1,563 Indian nationals since January.

The so-called “Donkey Route”, a term used for dangerous, multi-country journeys undertaken by migrants to illegally enter the US via Latin America, has seen increasing use by Indian nationals in recent years, often facilitated by international human smuggling networks.