JIND: After US President Donald Trump deported the first batch of illegal immigrants from an army plane, families in Haryana are deeply concerned. Family members who are now filled with fear are now unable to sleep at night due to the growing anxiety and action being taken by Trump.
Family members say that the children insisted on going, forcing them to send them to the USA by selling land and valuables through the dangerous “donkey route.” Agents charged over 40 lakhs per person to send the children via this route. Now, if the children are deported, the families will be ruined.
Talking to TOI, Suresh Kumar, a retired army personnel and a native of Khark Bhura village in Uchana town of Jind district, is at a loss for words after his son Rohit Sharma (21), was deported in first batch.
“My son went to the UK on January 20, 2024, after completing his graduation. He initially went there on a study visa, but later decided to go to America. He reached America a few days ago, but was caught there. I haven’t received any official communication from the authorities; instead, I learned about his return to India after the village sarpanch and local police contacted me to confirm his details. I haven’t been in touch with my son for the past 15 days, and I don’t know what has happened to him. I am unable to do anything at the moment, but I take solace in knowing that he is coming back alive. Once he returns, I will speak to him and advise him to settle his life in India,” he said.
Gurudev Singh, a resident of Jind, shared that his son went to England two years ago, but after insisting, he requested money and somehow made his way to the USA. They spent nearly 50 lakhs to send him. Now, due to Trump’s actions, everyone is worried. The whole family can’t sleep at night. Everyone is concerned about what will happen next. “I have only one son, but out of his persistence, I sent him to the US. Now, children being sent back in handcuffs, it is devastating, and the family is worried about how they will recover the money they invested,” Singh said.
Singh explained that unemployment in Haryana is at its peak, and young people can’t find jobs. They are hopeless and disheartened. That’s why they want to go abroad. “If the government ensures good employment opportunities and industries create new jobs in India, the youth will not go abroad. Many children from Haryana have gone to the US, but if Trump deports them, everything will be ruined. Therefore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should negotiate with Trump to resolve this issue during his scheduled meeting there.
Meanwhile, Mandeep from the Durana village of Jind shared that he was deported last year. He endured a lot while traveling through the “donkey route.” His life was always at high risk. Women also face exploitation on this route. People who travel this way are treated like animals. They are kept like criminals in several countries for months. Now “I will not plan to go there again through dunki route on seeing this situation. I had lost my one acre land to fulfill my dream to go abroad but don’t want further loss. Therefore, I will plan to go there through a legal route now,” he added.
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