Punjabi youth deported from Panama recounts struggle, harsh treatment

Chandigarh: Jugraj Singh, a resident of Chaudharpur village in Gurdaspur, was among the Indian youth deported from Panama and arrived at Amritsar airport yesterday. Having sold part of his land and taken loans to raise Rs 40 lakh, he had hoped to build a better future in the United States.

“I reached there, but now all my dreams have been shattered,” he said.

In recent months, three US military planes have landed in Amritsar with deported Indian nationals. On Sunday, four Punjabis were sent back from Panama via commercial flights. These individuals were first flown from Panama to Turkey by Turkish Airlines, then to Delhi, and finally to Amritsar.

The crackdown on illegal immigration intensified after the newly elected US President took office in January 2024, fulfilling an election promise. Since then, Indians from various states have been deported multiple times, drawing criticism, particularly for the use of handcuffs and military aircraft.

A perilous journey

Jugraj Singh left for the US in July 2024, first flying from Mumbai. His journey spanned multiple countries over seven months, including a grueling trek through the forests of Panama before crossing the Mexican border into the US on February 7.

“I had a tourist visa for South America, and from there, I traveled by flight. But after that, I had to take trains, ships, and even navigate the forests of Panama,” he said. “For six days, I searched for a way through the jungle, finally reaching the Mexican border. As soon as I crossed, the US Border Force detained me.”

Jugraj was held in a detention camp for seven days, where he described harsh treatment.

“The US army didn’t let us sleep properly. Sometimes they woke us up in the middle of the night and forced us to bathe in cold water. They locked us in freezing rooms with the air conditioning on high and provided little water to drink,” he recounted.

He said several other Indians, including women, were also held in the camp.

On February 14, without prior notice, he and others were placed on a military plane, handcuffed and shackled, and sent to Panama. There, they were kept in a large hotel by an unidentified organization before being sent back to India.