India, Sept. 29 -- Some of them took loans, others took death risks with it, to somehow reach the United States of America. But when US President Donald Trump went hammer and tongs deporting illegal immigrants as he returned to power this year, nthey were evicted, shackled and disgraced.

Nearly half of those deported are from Punjab and Haryana. Foreign ministry data shows that of the 1,703 Indians deported so far this year, 620, the highest number in the country, are from Punjab.

The notorious 'donkey route' had landed them in US detention centres, but that has not deterred them from dreaming again of settling abroad. These dreams can be attributed to desperation. Most of these deportees are trapped in a web of debt and deceit.

Many a...