With the increase in illegal migration by Indians wishing to reach the United States, the term Dunki (or, as it is sometimes called, ‘Donkey Route’) has emerged as one of the sad culs-de-sac to be endured. In radiating despair, these would-be immigrants feel forced to make whole-life sacrifices of large sums of money to satiate the agents who promise to arrange their smuggling into the U.S. near life-endangering routes.
One man sold his land and paid an agent an estimated ₹50-60 lakh in the belief that the same would transform into a passport to his desired life ahead in an American yacht with no chartered passage.
The ‘Dunki’ Route: A Dangerous Gamble
Dunki methods comprise transits over international borders, mostly through Latin American countries, to enter the United States illegally. Most often, the Indian migrants are flown into Ecuador or Brazil, where it is easy to enter on a visa. They will then undertake the arduous journey through the highly treacherous Darién Gap jungle, which serves as a wilderness for criminals, wild animals, and inhospitable nature.
From the aforementioned stretch from the jungle, the journey continues across Central America and into Mexico, eventually to the border, where they surrender voluntarily, by preference, if possible, or illegally across. Alternatively, many migrants claim asylum as the last hope ever of remaining in the country legally.
Asylum: The Final Play for Legal Entry
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Once the person reached the U.S., he immediately sought asylum, declaring that his life was in danger back in India. This is a well-known tactic used by Dunki migrants since very often, the U.S. immigration system allows these migrants to get asylum by proving that they are being persecuted in their country.
Asylum claimants usually justify their positions by citing persecution based on political, religious, or caste grounds. For some, such a strategy includes concocting stories of being targeted by the authorities or extremist groups as a pretext for being granted asylum. While there are instances where they do appear to be genuine, many have been orchestrated by agents, who provide migrants with ready-made stories to use in their asylum interviews.
The Cost of a ‘Dream’
- Financial Costs: The migrant paid through his nose, somewhere to the tune of ₹50-60 lakh; this went down the drain in getting him to the U.S. Some bought this money by selling their property, taking loans, or borrowing from relatives.
- Physical Torture & Emotional Trauma: The Dunki route is fraught with danger: starvation, fatigue, injury, and death. Many migrants are exploited, kidnapped, robbed, and otherwise injured by human traffickers during their travels.
- Legal Limbo: A few asylum seekers do find their way to freedom; but for many, deportation awaits with the sealing of their doom. Only in recent years has the U.S. tightened its scrutiny of asylum claims, for which denial and return started increasing.
The Bigger Picture: India’s Rising Dunki Crisis
India’s Increasing Dunki Crisis A large number of Indians who are increasingly choosing Dunki show the socio-economic reasons for this factor. Many factors like unemployment, not having opportunities, and the urge for a Western lifestyle drive a person to such extreme measures. Punjab and Gujarat become the biggest clandestine havens for illegal migrations, where agents run huge profit-bearing networks under their illegal migration schemes for a price, but only to the immigrants, who pledge entry into the U.S.
However, the risks are borne by many in the hope that they will drag the success story of such a success abroad; this would encourage others. With better legal migration avenues being opened up as well as introducing different job prospects at home, the Dunki culture will not slow down.
Conclusion
Migration is indeed a natural affair, but the Dunki route for that is almost a gamble with high risks. Many are using their entire life savings for this but have to run for their lives after some time. It also calls for an awareness campaign on the consequences of such illegal migration as well as the promotion of safe and legal channels for those seeking opportunities abroad.
For many, the dream of a better life casts itself at an unbearable price-sometimes even the price of life itself.
