“I want to go abroad again,” says Punjab student deported from US

Chandigarh: Muskan, a 21-year-old resident of Jagraon, was deported to India after attempting to enter the United States illegally through the Mexico border. She had initially traveled to the UK on a study visa in January 2024 to pursue a business course.

During her holidays, Muskan left for Mexico on January 25 and crossed the Tijuana border into the US along with a group of around 50 people. She was detained by US authorities and kept in a camp for 10 days before being transported on a military plane.

“We were not informed about our deportation while in the camp. On January 3, we were told we would be taken to another border to be released. For three days, we were on a military plane, stopping at unknown locations. Even though we were chained, we were allowed to eat comfortably,” she said.

It was only mid-flight that she realized she was being sent back to India. Her family, who had invested Rs 45 lakh for her studies abroad, learned of her deportation through a relative in Australia.

“I still have two years left on my UK visa, so I don’t consider this deportation. I want to go abroad again to study and support my family,” Muskan said.