At Delhi airport on Saturday night, Harjinder Singh stepped off a deportation flight from the United States, his feet swollen and chained marks visible.
“My feet are swollen. I was shackled for 25 hours,” the 45-year-old from Ambala, who had paid ₹35 lakh hoping to start a new life in Jacksonville, Florida, told PTI. “I liked America. It is a good country but (President) Trump sent us back.”
Singh was among more than 50 men from Haryana’s Kaithal, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Ambala, and Yamunanagar districts who were deported by US authorities after entering through the Dunki route — a long, illegal passage used by many Indians to reach America through multiple countries.
These men, mostly aged between 25 and 40, had sold land, borrowed heavily, and drained their savings to fund the journey. Another deportee, Naresh Kumar from Kaithal, said he spent ₹57 lakh raised from selling farmland and family loans.
“It took me two months to reach the US through the donkey route. I was in jail for 14 months before being sent back. I would not advise anyone to do so,” he said.
Also Read| Is 'Dunki' migration to the US a smart investment or a foolish gamble for Indian youth?
Their stories are part of a growing trend of Indians taking the Dunki route — a dangerous path across continents that ends, more often than not, in detention or deportation.
What Is the Dunki Route
The Dunki route, also known as the donkey route, is an illegal migration pathway used by individuals from India to reach the United States or other Western nations without valid documents.
The term “Dunki” comes from Punjabi slang meaning “to hop from place to place.” It refers to the way migrants cross multiple international borders illegally, often through Latin America, guided by human smugglers who charge lakhs of rupees with the promise of delivering them to America.
Why Migrants Use It
The Dunki route attracts migrants because legal immigration to the United States is difficult and expensive. Long visa processing times and strict eligibility criteria leave limited opportunities for those with little formal education or financial resources.
Most migrants using this route come from Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat. Families invest their life savings, sell property, or take loans, believing the sacrifice will secure a better life abroad. But many end up trapped in detention or debt instead.
“My lakhs of rupees have now gone wasted,” Singh said, recalling how his hopes of supporting his family collapsed after his deportation.
Also Read| Journey through 11 countries, Rs 35 lakh to agents: How Haryana man reached US, only to be deported
How the Route Works
The Dunki route spans several continents and can take months to complete. It usually begins with an air ticket and ends with a dangerous border crossing.
1. Arranging the Journey
Migrants contact agents in India who promise to send them to the US through “special routes.” These agents work with smuggling networks operating across Latin America. The total cost can exceed ₹40 lakh to ₹1 crore, depending on the promised destination and documents arranged.
2. First Stop — South America
Most migrants fly first to a Latin American country such as Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, or Brazil, where visa rules are more relaxed. From there, they begin an overland journey northward.
3. Through South and Central America
Migrants then move through Colombia and into Panama, where they must cross the treacherous Darién Gap — a dense rainforest filled with swamps, rivers, and rough terrain. Many travel for days on foot, facing hunger, illness, robbery, and assault.
Those who survive continue through Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala, often using buses, boats, or trucks arranged by local agents. Conditions are cramped, unsafe, and uncertain.
4. Reaching Mexico
The final stop before the US border is Mexico, where migrants gather in towns such as Tapachula or Ciudad Juárez. Some attempt to cross illegally through deserts and riverbeds, while others surrender to US border patrol officers to request asylum.
Smugglers often control these crossings, demanding extra payments for “safe passage.” Many migrants are caught, detained, and eventually deported.
5. Alternate Routes
Recent investigations show some networks first send migrants to Italy or Spain before transferring them to Latin America, making the route harder to trace. The structure shifts frequently as authorities tighten controls.
How Many People Use It and How Many Are Caught
The number of Indians using the Dunki route has surged in recent years. Data from US Customs and Border Protection shows that over 97,000 Indian nationals were detained at the US–Mexico border in 2024, a sharp increase from 2022.
Early in 2025, more than 250 Indians were deported from the US in multiple flights, including the recent batch from Haryana. Many others remain in detention or awaiting asylum hearings.
In India, the Enforcement Directorate and state police in Punjab and Haryana have launched investigations into human-smuggling networks and travel agents believed to be running the Dunki racket.
Risks and Consequences
The Dunki route exposes migrants to financial loss, physical harm, and psychological trauma. Many endure harsh travel conditions, hunger, or abuse along the way. After deportation, they return home with debts and disappointment.
“It should not have been done. I was shackled for 25 hours,” Singh said. “My dreams for my family are gone.”
For families who invested everything, the return brings shame and financial ruin. Local police in Haryana said most deportees are avoiding public attention, while some families have declined to speak about their experiences.
The Dunki route is a dangerous and illegal pathway used by Indian migrants to reach the United States through Latin America. It is driven by limited legal migration options, economic pressure, and the desire for a better life abroad. But for many, the journey ends in detention, deportation, and debt — turning dreams of prosperity into stories of loss.
“My feet are swollen. I was shackled for 25 hours,” the 45-year-old from Ambala, who had paid ₹35 lakh hoping to start a new life in Jacksonville, Florida, told PTI. “I liked America. It is a good country but (President) Trump sent us back.”
Singh was among more than 50 men from Haryana’s Kaithal, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Ambala, and Yamunanagar districts who were deported by US authorities after entering through the Dunki route — a long, illegal passage used by many Indians to reach America through multiple countries.
These men, mostly aged between 25 and 40, had sold land, borrowed heavily, and drained their savings to fund the journey. Another deportee, Naresh Kumar from Kaithal, said he spent ₹57 lakh raised from selling farmland and family loans.
“It took me two months to reach the US through the donkey route. I was in jail for 14 months before being sent back. I would not advise anyone to do so,” he said.
Also Read| Is 'Dunki' migration to the US a smart investment or a foolish gamble for Indian youth?
Their stories are part of a growing trend of Indians taking the Dunki route — a dangerous path across continents that ends, more often than not, in detention or deportation.
What Is the Dunki Route
The Dunki route, also known as the donkey route, is an illegal migration pathway used by individuals from India to reach the United States or other Western nations without valid documents.
The term “Dunki” comes from Punjabi slang meaning “to hop from place to place.” It refers to the way migrants cross multiple international borders illegally, often through Latin America, guided by human smugglers who charge lakhs of rupees with the promise of delivering them to America.
Why Migrants Use It
The Dunki route attracts migrants because legal immigration to the United States is difficult and expensive. Long visa processing times and strict eligibility criteria leave limited opportunities for those with little formal education or financial resources.
Most migrants using this route come from Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat. Families invest their life savings, sell property, or take loans, believing the sacrifice will secure a better life abroad. But many end up trapped in detention or debt instead.
“My lakhs of rupees have now gone wasted,” Singh said, recalling how his hopes of supporting his family collapsed after his deportation.
Also Read| Journey through 11 countries, Rs 35 lakh to agents: How Haryana man reached US, only to be deported
How the Route Works
The Dunki route spans several continents and can take months to complete. It usually begins with an air ticket and ends with a dangerous border crossing.
1. Arranging the Journey
Migrants contact agents in India who promise to send them to the US through “special routes.” These agents work with smuggling networks operating across Latin America. The total cost can exceed ₹40 lakh to ₹1 crore, depending on the promised destination and documents arranged.
2. First Stop — South America
Most migrants fly first to a Latin American country such as Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, or Brazil, where visa rules are more relaxed. From there, they begin an overland journey northward.
3. Through South and Central America
Migrants then move through Colombia and into Panama, where they must cross the treacherous Darién Gap — a dense rainforest filled with swamps, rivers, and rough terrain. Many travel for days on foot, facing hunger, illness, robbery, and assault.
Those who survive continue through Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala, often using buses, boats, or trucks arranged by local agents. Conditions are cramped, unsafe, and uncertain.
4. Reaching Mexico
The final stop before the US border is Mexico, where migrants gather in towns such as Tapachula or Ciudad Juárez. Some attempt to cross illegally through deserts and riverbeds, while others surrender to US border patrol officers to request asylum.
Smugglers often control these crossings, demanding extra payments for “safe passage.” Many migrants are caught, detained, and eventually deported.
5. Alternate Routes
Recent investigations show some networks first send migrants to Italy or Spain before transferring them to Latin America, making the route harder to trace. The structure shifts frequently as authorities tighten controls.
How Many People Use It and How Many Are Caught
The number of Indians using the Dunki route has surged in recent years. Data from US Customs and Border Protection shows that over 97,000 Indian nationals were detained at the US–Mexico border in 2024, a sharp increase from 2022.
Early in 2025, more than 250 Indians were deported from the US in multiple flights, including the recent batch from Haryana. Many others remain in detention or awaiting asylum hearings.
In India, the Enforcement Directorate and state police in Punjab and Haryana have launched investigations into human-smuggling networks and travel agents believed to be running the Dunki racket.
Risks and Consequences
The Dunki route exposes migrants to financial loss, physical harm, and psychological trauma. Many endure harsh travel conditions, hunger, or abuse along the way. After deportation, they return home with debts and disappointment.
“It should not have been done. I was shackled for 25 hours,” Singh said. “My dreams for my family are gone.”
For families who invested everything, the return brings shame and financial ruin. Local police in Haryana said most deportees are avoiding public attention, while some families have declined to speak about their experiences.
The Dunki route is a dangerous and illegal pathway used by Indian migrants to reach the United States through Latin America. It is driven by limited legal migration options, economic pressure, and the desire for a better life abroad. But for many, the journey ends in detention, deportation, and debt — turning dreams of prosperity into stories of loss.
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