New Delhi, March 4 -- The allure of the American Dream continues to draw individuals from across the globe, including India, where a complex web of illegal immigration routes, known as "dunki routes," has emerged. These clandestine pathways, often fraught with danger and exploitation, promise a backdoor entry into the United States, but frequently deliver only heartbreak and despair. Recent events, including deportations and the exposure of human smuggling operations, have brought the harsh realities of these journeys into sharp focus, forcing a closer examination of the motivations behind them and the devastating consequences for those who gamble everything for a chance at a new life.

The scale of the issue is significant. While deporta...