A Costly Lesson: Deported youth, shares harrowing experience, warns against illegal immigration
Deported youth warns against illegal immigration, seeks govt support for rehabilitation
Ferozepur, February 16, 2025: Sourav, one of the Indian immigrants deported from the US, recounted his distressing journey after spending around ₹45 lakh in an unsuccessful attempt to settle abroad. Hailing from Chandi Wala village in Ferozepur, he arrived in Amritsar on the second deportation flight from the US.
Meanwhile, Bhagwant Singh Mann has also said that the mass deportations from the US is an eye opener for all of us and now we should not move abroad illegally rather work hard in socio-economic growth of the state.
Sourav revealed that he entered the US on January 27 but was caught by the police within two to three hours. "We were taken to a police station and, after a few hours, shifted to a detention camp, where we were held for 15-18 days with no one to listen to us. Two days before our deportation, we were told we were being moved to another camp. However, once we boarded the flight, we realized we were being sent back to India," he said.
Detailing his journey, he stated that after leaving India in December, he first travelled to Malaysia, then Mumbai, followed by Amsterdam, Panama, Tapachula, and finally Mexico, where he stayed for three to four days before attempting to cross into the US.
Recalling the trauma of deportation, he shared, "Many young men lost their minds upon hearing about their deportation. Some were brutally restrained with handcuffs, leaving them injured." However, he acknowledged that the US authorities followed their legal procedures.
Sourav urged the Indian government to support deported youths by providing employment opportunities.
He also advised young Indians against illegal migration, warning that it leads to financial loss and mental distress. While handcuffing and chaining are standard procedures under US law for deportees, the experience has left many youths in a state of depression after losing their life savings.