Punjab Woman’s ₹1-Crore ‘Dunki’ Route Nightmare Ends in Deportation

 

Lovepreet Kaur recalls harrowing 25-day journey; dreams of reunion shattered

 

As the Donald Trump led US administration deported the first batch of illegal immigrants from India, the family of one of the deportees from Punjab has demanded clampdown against the ‘donkey’ route, the illegal pathway used by travel agents to send Indians abroad.

The batch of 104 deportees landed at Amritsar airport in a special US aircraft and included 19 women and 13 minors, including a four-year-old boy and two girls, aged five and seven. They were taken to their native places in police vehicles by the Punjab government.

 

Kapurthala: Dreams of a better life in the United States ended in heartbreak for Lovepreet Kaur, a 30-year-old woman from Bholath in Punjabâ s Kapurthala district, who was deported after a failed attempt to enter the US through Mexico. Kaur, along with her 10-year-old son, had embarked on the treacherous journey on January 2, only to be apprehended by US border authorities.

The family had pinned their hopes on agents, paying an exorbitant ₹1.05 crore to secure what they were promised would be a “safe passage” via the infamous ˜Dunki routeâ a term for illegal migration paths through Latin America. However, the journey turned into a nightmare.

“We were chained, detained, and treated worse than criminals,â Kaur recounted, visibly shaken upon her return. Her voice trembled as she described the 25-day ordeal that dashed her hopes of reuniting with her husband, who has been living in the US for several years.

Dreams Turn to Despair

Lovepreetâ family, who own six acres of farmland, had sold off assets and borrowed heavily to fund the journey. The familyâs sacrifice underscores the desperation among many in Punjab to seek a better future abroad.

Back home, her in-laws travelled to Amritsar airport on Wednesday to receive Lovepreet and her son. Overwhelmed with the shock of her deportation and the financial blow, they refrained from speaking publicly.

 

Lovepreetâs story sheds light on the growing trend of illegal migration from Punjab. For many families, agents promising safe routes often turn out to be false messiahs. Migrants frequently endure inhumane conditions, including extortion, exploitation, and life-threatening situations.

The harrowing tale of Lovepreet serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in seeking unauthorized entry to foreign lands. Experts emphasize the importance of awareness and stringent action against human traffickers who exploit vulnerable families.

“We thought we were investing in our future, but it has destroyed us instead, said a family member, lamenting the financial and emotional turmoil.

 

Lovepreeta ordeal has reignited the call for stricter action against illegal migration networks. Authorities have urged people to avoid falling prey to dubious agents and instead explore legal pathways for migration.

For now, Lovepreet and her family face an uncertain future. The dream of a reunion remains unfulfilled, overshadowed by the scars of a journey they hope to leave behind.

By ANN News Bureau