The Journey Home

The White House's military transport plane flew hundreds of miles back to India with 104 Indian citizens aboard, in the middle of the night. These were not tourists or business travellers. They were migrants who had entered the United States illegally. The flight landed in Amritsar, Punjab, in Northwest India. This was the longest flight in the US's history of deporting migrants. While the migrants were sent back to India, their families had to deal with the emotional and financial costs. 23-year-old Akashdeep Singh, originally from Punjab, India, was one of the deportees. Singh was detained and sent back within months of his arrival in the country. His father had sold two-thirds of their family’s land to fund the journey. Akashdeep left India seven months before the deportation to enter the United States. This was not a decision his family took lightly. The family knew the risks but chose this option as a way to escape poverty and improve their lives. The family had hoped that Akashdeep could send money back home. Now he returns empty-handed. Akashdeep's family feels relieved that he returned alive, but the experience was a harsh reminder of the dangers of illegal immigration. The family sold their land to pay for the costs of his journey, so he can come back empty-handed. Akashdeep’s journey is not unique. In recent years, more Indians have been entering the US illegally. The number of Indian citizens entering the US illegally has increased dramatically in recent years. This trend is driven by young Indians looking for better job opportunities. The journey is risky and dangerous. They often travel through Latin America to reach the US southern border. The journey is fraught with danger and many migrants face hardships. Many of these young people return to their families empty-handed. Many young people are leaving India to seek better life opportunities. The journey is one of desperation, as many people are driven by high unemployment rates. Many families are selling their property to fund their children's journey to the US. Most of these journeys are in vain as many of them do not get a chance to work. They are returned empty-handed and in debt. Many families are left in debt and with less property. A former Punjab village leader, Lakbhir Singh, spoke about the impact of these deportations on local families. He explained that many families sold their property to fund their children's journey. He also talked about the desperation of these families. Lakbhir believed the government needed to address the root cause of this problem. They should focus on creating job opportunities and improving the lives of young people. Young people want a better life. They want to work and support their families. The government needs to do more to address the root causes of this problem.