Amritsar: A group of 112 Indian immigrants, including 23-year-old Jatinder Singh, was deported from the United States to Amritsar on Sunday night. Singh shared his traumatic experience after spending two weeks in a US detention camp, where he alleged mistreatment and torture.
Singh, who had traveled to the US with hopes of finding a job to support his family, claimed he was forced to remove his turban by US authorities, who threw it in the trash. He described his living conditions in the camp as harsh, stating he was given only Lay’s chips and Frooti juice twice a day. Singh also claimed that the US Army turned on the air conditioner at a low temperature while increasing the heater, causing his skin to dry out.
He was kept in shackles for 36 hours during the flight back to India, with no access to proper food or restrooms. He said the shackles were only removed 10 minutes before landing in Amritsar. “It was a painful and humiliating experience,” Singh said, adding that he will now look for a job in India and never attempt to go abroad again.
Singh’s journey to the US began in September 2024, when he left his home in Amritsar after being promised a job abroad by an agent. He sold his family’s land and jewelry to pay the agent Rs 50 lakh. The agent assured him that he would safely cross the US-Mexico border by traveling through the jungles of Panama, but Singh described the journey as grueling and dangerous. He witnessed the bodies of other illegal immigrants along the way, which he described as a “depressing” sight.
After crossing the Panama jungle, Singh was caught by US border police and detained in a camp where he was allegedly mistreated. “The agent disappeared halfway, and I was left stranded,” he said. “It was the worst decision I ever made.”
The deportation process has raised concerns over the treatment of Indian immigrants, especially Sikh deportees. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) condemned the removal of turbans and called for a thorough investigation. SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami demanded that those responsible be held accountable.
The recent deportations highlight the growing number of illegal Indian immigrants being returned from the US. Over 300 immigrants have been deported in the last few days, with 116 more deported in a second flight that landed in Amritsar late Saturday night. Many of the deportees complained of being shackled during the long flights, with Sikh deportees alleging that they were not allowed to wear their turbans.
Authorities in India have expressed concern over the conditions these deported individuals face, with calls for better support and assistance for them upon their return. The SGPC has offered to help the deportees and vowed to assist those affected by the mistreatment.
As the number of deportations increases, the treatment of Indian immigrants, especially those from the Sikh community, remains a contentious issue, with calls for justice and accountability growing louder.
