Donkey Route… 104 Indians who had entered America through this route and were living illegally were deported on Wednesday (5 February). The first thing that comes to mind when we hear the name of Donkey Route is Panama jungle (Darian Gap). Crossing this, people from Haryana, Punjab and Gujarat and other states of the country had reached America to fulfill their ‘American Dream’.
What is this Donkey Route, who are the Donkers, what were the compulsions to fulfill which people risk their lives and head towards America. There are many such questions, to find answers to which Dainik Bhaskar talked to travel agents, immigration experts and people who entered America through Donkey Route….
1. Good earning, good life: Rupee is used in India and dollar in America. One dollar there converts into several times rupees here. In such a situation, a person feels that once he reaches America, he will earn thousands of dollars and will have lakhs of rupees in his country. This will lead to a bigger house, a bigger car. Children’s future will be secure. Even in the country, the salary received in rupees for a job will fulfill the needs, but the dreams will not be fulfilled. This is where the American Dream begins.
2. Visa is not available: There are visa rules to go to America. One has to pass the IELTS exam. Some people fail in the exam. Some people do not know English well. Some are not able to complete the visa formalities, then they have no option left except crossing the border illegally i.e. the donkey route.
3. I will also go to the neighboring America: In many states including Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, there is a trend that if the neighbor has gone to America, then they also have to go. Call it social pressure or prestige, settling abroad makes them feel proud. As a result, they stake everything and set out for America.
Then the agents lure them with guaranteed entry
When a person is mentally ready that he has to go to America, then the agents enter. They show dreams of guaranteed visa to America, good job there and then permanent citizenship. They file for visa. They keep on extorting money. Visa is not granted and then they trap people to take them to America through donkey route. For this, they make arrangements with Donkers. There are proper packages for Donkers too….
Sold land and jewellery, took loan to arrange money
People sell their land to go to America. If money is less, they sell the jewellery of the house. They take loan from bank or private person and give it to Donkers. Some people hand over their life savings to Donkers. Mostly lower middle class people get trapped in this. They give 25 to 60 lakh rupees to Donkers.
Donkey route to go to America…
The distance from India to America is about 13,500 km. It takes 17 to 20 hours to reach here by air. However, through the Donkey Route, this distance is up to 15 thousand km and this journey takes months.
Most people go from Latin American countries
The most popular and first stop of Donkey in India is to reach Latin American countries. These include countries like Ecuador, Bolivia and Guyana. Indians get visa on arrival in these countries. This means that there is no need to get a visa in advance to go to these countries and visa is given on the spot.
Indians are easily given tourist visa in some other countries including Brazil and Venezuela. From here, people reach Colombia through the Donkey Route. Many people go to Latin American countries via Dubai. In this, they have to stay in containers for months.
The Donkey Route depends on how many connections the agent through whom you are going has in the respective countries. Although it is not difficult to reach Latin American countries, it still takes months to reach here. Many times people reach there after working hard and spending money in ten months.
