(HARYANA, INDIA) Families across Haryana are counting the cost of failed journeys to the United States 🇺🇸 after a wave of deportations returned dozens of men in their prime working years to the districts they left behind. As of October 2025, approximately 54 Indians have been deported from the U.S., and 50 of them are from this northern Indian state. Most are between 25 and 40 years old, and many tried to reach America through the so‑called “donkey route,” an illegal path run by traffickers that winds across multiple countries and borders without proper documents.
The Haryana deportations have hit communities from Karnal, Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Ambala, Yamunanagar, Jind, and Panipat especially hard. Families say they spent everything to fund the trips, often selling small plots of land, pawning jewellery, borrowing from relatives, and taking high-interest loans. In some cases, relatives say they paid up to Rs 60 lakh, with the understanding that the agents would secure passage through Latin America and guide their sons across the U.S. border. When the journeys ended in detention and removal, the debt stayed behind, while the migrants returned with little more than the clothes they left in.
Officials say the deported migrants were held for months before removal, with many describing a grim trip home under restraint. Returnees were handcuffed and shackled on the flight back to India, a jarring end to an already dangerous and expensive gamble. For parents and spouses who staked their future on a new start in the United States, the loss is both financial and emotional—money gone, dreams deferred, and reputations in the village under strain.
The “donkey route,” long known through word of mouth and WhatsApp messages, strings together a series of smuggling legs by air, bus, and foot, often through Central America and Mexico. Though many know the dangers—robbery, extortion, and arrest—agents still draw customers with stories of quick jobs and high wages in U.S. cities. Those stories have always brushed past the reality that once caught at the border or inside the United States without legal status, migrants face detention and deportation. The recent removals make that risk impossible to ignore in Haryana’s towns and farming hamlets.
Authorities have opened investigations into agents suspected of organising these journeys. Police say they are examining how the networks operate and where the money trail leads. As of the latest reports, however, no specific complaints have been filed against individual agents, which complicates efforts to hold organisers to account. Part of the challenge, officers note, is that families are wary of coming forward, either out of fear of retaliation or because they hope, even now, to recover at least some of what they paid.
The political climate in the United States has sharpened the consequences. Under President Trump, Washington has intensified its crackdown on illegal immigration, leading to increased deportations. That policy stance is felt thousands of kilometres away in Haryana’s villages, where young men talk about caches of debt and parents weigh mounting interest against their options. At a local level, police have warned residents not to risk the donkey route, stressing that detention and deportation are the most likely outcomes for those who try to enter the U.S. without proper documents.
The sums involved tell their own story. Rs 60 lakh is more than most households here can raise in a decade without selling assets or borrowing heavily. That means the fallout of a failed trip endures long after the return flight lands. In some families, two generations worked or sold property to fund the attempt. In others, sisters gave up dowries or parents pledged their shops to moneylenders. The recovery is slow, and the social pressure intense, as neighbours ask quiet questions and lenders circle back for payments that cannot be missed.
The age profile of the deportees—men between 25 and 40—adds to the strain. These are people who otherwise would be building careers or expanding family businesses at home. Many left secure but modest work, convinced by agents’ promises of quick entry and faster earnings abroad. When the plan fails, they return with gaps in their work history and loans that compound monthly. Families say the fear is less about starting over and more about starting behind, with no cushion and few good options.
Those who made it as far as detention describe months of waiting without any certainty. Detention often means limited contact with the outside world and no clear idea of when a hearing might take place or what will happen next. For relatives back home, this is the most difficult period: calls stop, money runs out, and rumours swell. When the deportation comes, it happens quickly, with little time for families to prepare emotionally or financially.
Local police say their message now is direct: do not put your life in the hands of smugglers. The donkey route may be advertised as a sure thing, but the real outcome for most is detention and removal. In addition to urging residents to avoid illegal paths, authorities say they are gathering information on agents and middlemen. People familiar with the investigations caution that building cases is slow, especially when victims hesitate to testify. But police maintain that scrutiny will continue, and they encourage families to document payments and promises made to agents in case legal action becomes possible.
Immigration experts note that the United States reserves strong powers to detain and remove those who arrive without permission. The current enforcement approach has been underscored by public statements and increased actions on the ground. For people considering the trip, the math now looks even worse: the odds of success are low, the risk of detention high, and the price—regularly cited as up to Rs 60 lakh—devastating if things go wrong. For official information about removals and enforcement, families can review guidance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which outlines how the process works and what detainees may face.
In the districts most affected, village elders and local leaders are pressing for a different path forward. Some urge young people to look first at options within India while they weigh any long-term plans abroad. Parents speak of wanting clearer, legal routes for migration, something they say would reduce the pull of the donkey route and the grip of agents who promise the world and deliver loss. There is also a quiet push for better local job programs and training so that the urge to leave is driven by opportunity, not desperation.
Families have been told to seek legal counsel if they are considering action against agents involved in these failed journeys. Lawyers say that documentation is key, including receipts, bank transfers, or even message histories that show promises and payments. Those steps may not erase the debt, but they can help build a case if authorities press charges later. Some relatives are also gathering in informal support groups, trading advice about dealing with lenders, repairing credit, and finding new work. Community members say this is not only about money; it is about rebuilding confidence and standing after a public setback.
Local officers continue to remind the public that, despite the stories shared on social media, the risks are real and rising. The Haryana deportations have created a word-of-mouth warning that spreads faster than any official notice: if you leave by the donkey route, you may come home in chains. That image is painful, but people who have lived through the process say it captures the truth better than promises of easy jobs abroad.
As the dust settles, the focus for many is practical survival. Interest payments are due. Children need school fees. Shops must reopen and farmlands must be tilled. Some returnees are quietly taking day work while they look for steadier jobs, trying to keep lenders at bay. For others, relatives abroad step in with small transfers to cover immediate needs. Even so, the sense of loss is heavy, not only for the money spent but for the belief that a single journey could change the trajectory of their lives.
Officials say investigations into the agents continue, and police insist their warnings will grow louder in villages where recruiters still knock. Families, meanwhile, are looking for reliable information and trustworthy advice before making any decisions. Some have turned to official notices and community forums, and others mention reading explainers on VisaVerge.com to better understand what legal pathways might exist. The message emerging in Haryana is steady and sobering: with the donkey route, the price can be as high as Rs 60 lakh, the risk of detention and deportation is high, and the consequences linger long after the flight home touches down.
This Article in a Nutshell
As of October 2025, about 54 Indians were deported from the U.S., with 50 from Haryana, mostly men aged 25–40. Many used an illegal smuggling network known as the “donkey route,” paying agents sums up to Rs 60 lakh sourced through asset sales, high-interest loans, and pawning valuables. Returnees report prolonged detention and harsh repatriation conditions, including being handcuffed on flights. Indian police have opened investigations into suspected agents, but families frequently hesitate to file complaints due to fear and debt. Authorities urge legal migration paths and warn communities about the high risk of detention and deportation. Local efforts focus on documenting payments, offering legal guidance, and promoting domestic job options.
