'We were handcuffed', claims deportee who arrived in second batch from U.S.

Illegal Indian immigrants deported from the U.S. were brought back in shackles, revealing the harsh reality of their journey.

Daljit Singh, who was among the deportees who reached Amritsar from the U.S. on Saturday (February 15, 2025) night, on Sunday claimed they were handcuffed with their legs chained during the journey.

"Our legs were chained and hands were also cuffed," Mr. Singh told reporters in Hoshiarpur.

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Mr. Singh, a native of Kurala Kalan village in Punjab's Hoshiarpur district, was among 116 illegal Indian immigrants who were brought back in a US aircraft that landed at the Amritsar airport on Saturday night.

Replying to a question, Mr. Singh said he was taken through the 'donkey route' — an illegal and risky pathway used by migrants to enter the U.S.

Mr. Singh's wife Kamalpreet Kaur alleged that her husband was deceived by a travel agent who promised him a direct flight to the U.S. but instead took him via the donkey route.

She said a man from their village had arranged for a travel agent to facilitate Mr. Singh's journey. The agent assured to take him to the US legally but later he was taken through multiple locations, raising suspicions about the legitimacy of his travel.