Indian Deportees Detail Immigration Scams and Harsh US Detention Conditions

Over 330 Indians deported from the US reveal fraud by travel agents and inhumane treatment at detention centers.

Punjab police have registered multiple FIRs against travel agents accused of defrauding individuals with false promises of legal immigration to the US, with victims losing up to ₹50 lakh each.
Victims describe being routed through dangerous international paths, including Nicaragua, Mexico, and Guatemala, as part of illegal immigration schemes known as 'dunki routes.'
Deportees recount inhumane detention conditions in the US, including inadequate food, freezing temperatures, and the confiscation or disrespect of religious items such as Sikh turbans.
A total of 333 Indian immigrants, primarily from Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat, have been deported in three US military flights this month as part of a crackdown on illegal immigration.
Authorities in India are investigating the role of travel agents and facilitators, with arrests made and further raids underway across states.