By Gill Bikram Singh 
Gurpreet Singh, handcuffed and shackled, was led onto the tarmac in Texas by US Border Patrol officers. A C-17 military transport aircraft waited to take him back to India, ending his months-long journey in pursuit of a new life in America.
The 39-year-old was among thousands of Indian migrants who risk everything to cross into the US illegally, driven by economic struggles back home. However, under the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies, Gurpreet became one of the first undocumented Indians to be deported without an asylum hearing.
Images of shackled migrants boarding deportation flights have sparked outrage in India, with opposition leaders questioning why Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained silent despite his close ties with Trump. The Indian government has since raised concerns, leading to changes in how women detainees are handled.
For now, fear has gripped those considering the perilous “donkey route” into the US. People-smugglers have gone into hiding, and many potential migrants are rethinking their plans. Gurpreet, back in Punjab and struggling with debt, now faces the harsh reality of rebuilding his life after his shattered American dream.