Donkey/Dunki Route: The Dangerous Journey of Illegal Migration from India to the United States

Donkey/Dunki Route: The Dangerous Journey of Illegal Migration from India to the United States

KAKALI DAS

Why are these Indians being deported? The allegation is that they entered the United States illegally. After arriving, they started living there without legal documentation and took up small jobs to sustain themselves. But how did they manage to get there?

The answer: The Donkey/Dunki Route.

The legal way to go to America for work is to apply for a visa. After attending the visa interview and obtaining approval, you can travel to the United States or any other foreign country through an international airport.

However, when obtaining a visa becomes difficult, some people resort to the illegal Donkey Route.

The Donkey Route is an illegal and lengthy journey that involves traveling through multiple countries. Air travel is minimal on this route, with most of the journey taking place by boat, bus, or on foot. Ultimately, individuals illegally cross the border to reach their destination.

If someone intends to reach America via the Donkey Route, the journey is usually carried out in phases. It begins at an international airport in India, from where they typically travel to Dubai, Qatar, or another country using a tourist visa or a fake visa.

From there, they travel to South American countries like Brazil or Ecuador, as obtaining a visa for Indians is relatively easy in these places.

At this stage, the journey toward North America begins, with the assistance of human traffickers. From Brazil or Ecuador, these agents lead them through the treacherous Darién Gap forest in Colombia.

From Panama, travellers make their way to Mexico via Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala. This journey is primarily undertaken by bus or truck, with money being collected at various points along the way.

Now comes the final and most challenging part of the journey—crossing into the United States from Mexico. People attempt this by either crossing the Rio Grande River or navigating through dangerous desert routes.

If they cross by land, they have to cross the massive border fence between the two countries. Some individuals, upon reaching the U.S., surrender to authorities and apply for asylum. However, many are caught and either placed in detention centers or deported back to their home country.

It’s Important to note that the Donkey Route does not guarantee reaching America. Firstly, it is an illegal and highly risky method. Secondly, many lose their lives attempting this journey, as they must navigate dense forests, treacherous snowy paths, rough seas, and dangerous rivers. Such a journey is impossible through legal means.

Many people fall victim to natural disasters, wild animals, or criminals along the way. During the journey, a significant amount of money is spent, and often, travellers run out of funds midway, leaving them stranded.

We can also gain insight into the dangers of this route from a report published in the Indian Express by Anju Agnihotri. The report shares the story of Harjinder Singh from Punjab, who travelled from India to Mexico via the Donkey Route in just four months.

Harjinder’s agent charged him Rs. 17 lakhs to take him through the Donkey Route. After paying the amount, the journey began. Harjinder travelled from Delhi to Dubai, then to Brazil. From there, he made his way to Colombia via Peru and Ecuador. After an 8-hour bus ride in Colombia, he was taken alone to the seaside town of Turbo and then into the jungles of Panama.

There, Harjinder’s group was joined by 15 African migrants. Together, they continued their journey through the jungles of Panama for over 10 days, covering approximately 105 kilometers. Along the way, they encountered at least 40 dead bodies, some half-eaten and others reduced to skeletons. Harjinder and his group were held in a camp where he couldn’t sleep for many nights. After spending thirteen days there, they were finally given permit to travel toCosta Rica.

They were then placed on a bus heading to Nicaragua. From there, he took them to Guatemala and then loaded them onto trucks, transporting them to Tapachula, Mexico. In Tapachula, they were held for 20 days, being told that their paperwork was still being processed.

Afterward, they were placed in a camp in Veracruz, where they were required to communicate with US border officials via video conferencing.

Harjinder believed that after spending so much money and enduring numerous hardships, he would finally be able to settle in America. However, the exact opposite occurred—he was deported back to India. The entire process took around four months.

Do you understand how dangerous this entire route is? Now the question is that why do people take the path which has so much risk, so much expense and nothing is certain or guaranteed?

How big is the trend of migration from India to the United States? And which states experience the highest levels of migration?

According to available reports, over 700,000 people have become undocumented residents in the United States in recent years. The US Border Agency indicated that around 30,000 individuals from India attempted to cross the border illegally in 2021. Just two years later, in 2023, that number surged to approximately 100,000 individuals attempting to enter the US illegally.

As you can see, the number has been increasing every year. This surge is primarily driven by the desire for economic security, better job opportunities, and access to quality education. There are three or four states that contribute the most to this migration: Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh.

It Is known that individuals who enter the United States illegally often find work in construction, as daily wage labourers, or on dairy farms. Interestingly, the salary they earn in the US is often Double of what they could earn in India.

This attraction is driving people from Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and other states to attempt migration to the United States. As a result, the number of immigrants continues to rise each year.

We hope that we can learn from these incidents and situations and always choose a legal path moving forward.

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