In a tight spot

The fresh batches of deportation of Indian migrants from the United States have once again put the spotlight on the harsh realities of illegal migration.

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Hundreds of Indians, many of whom spent months or even years trying to build a life in America, were all of a sudden sent back, leaving their dreams shattered to pieces. The widely circulating images of tired, defeated faces at Indian airports narrate a story of desperation, deception, and dashed hopes.

For many of these migrants, leaving India was not a choice but a necessity. Unbearable economic hardship, unemployment, and lack of opportunities push thousands to seek a better life abroad. It is a well-known fact that they sell land, take loans, and give everything they have to agents who promise them a new future. But the journey for them is far from easy. Many of the illegal migrants go through dangerous routes. They cross jungles, deserts, and rivers, often falling into the hands of wily human traffickers who exploit their vulnerability. Many of the migrants endure physical and mental abuse as well, while others are abandoned midway, left to survive on their own.