‘Trump’, ‘Snake’, ‘America Wala’: Amid US deportations, a look at songs favoured by illegal immigrants

The song ‘Trump’ has 49 million views on YouTube. “Siddha vajya daran te Subedar tu/Kehnda keenve aaya jatta bina 7 band de/main kiha assi ni embassy vich visa mangya/Jithon lang aaye nahi saukha janda langya/Le ke aaya ni bags vich nave kapde/Sher ud aande 35 footi kandh tapke ((A subedar went straight to my house and asked, ‘How did you come without seven bands (IELTS)?’ I said, ‘We never went to the embassy seeking a visa.’ Where we crossed from, it’s not easy to pass. We did not bring new clothes packed in bags. Lions jump over 35-foot walls to reach their destination,” the song says.

“It is as if they won an Olympic medal after climbing the wall. This is to discourage those who follow legal routes….a mafia promoting ‘dunki’ culture is behind promoting such content on social media,” an overseas education consultant from Ludhiana told The Indian Express, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

With a US military aircraft carrying 104 Indians deported for entering the country illegally landing in Amritsar this week, the spotlight is back on the ‘dunki’ route, the treacherous journey across countries that many illegal immigrants choose to reach the US, and the songs allegedly glorifying the practice.

Sidhu, who has roots in Bathinda, released another song in November, ‘Snake’, flaunting the life of illegal immigrants in refugee camps.

Another popular song in such reels is ‘America Wala’ by singers Ravraaz and Ravi Rbs. Released five years ago, the song talks about how illegal immigrants earn more than the ones on study visas.

“Kardi je maan tu study vise da. Jatt lake aaya pure 40 lakh ni/Dina vich paani e main game baliye/Bhotiyan main tareekan wala nahi/Haske na kehdi ni 2 numberi/Munda pind vich vajje America wala ni (If you feel proud of your study visa, this Jat has come after spending 40 lakh instead. I will turn the game around in just a few days. I am not the type to go on many dates (court dates of illegal immigrants). Don’t call me a fraud with a smile. In the village, the boy is called ‘America wala’,” read the lyrics.

The song further refers to a boy who spent two months in a refugee camp and paid Rs 18 lakh for the immigration bond (bail in illegal immigration case). Once he got out, he handled his work and sent money to his village every month which is equivalent to the fee of one semester of a study visa student, the song goes on to say.

The songs are just the tip of the iceberg as hundreds of videos on social media – from Facebook pages called ‘America donkey’, ‘USA wale’ etc to several Instagram handles – show how Indians are travelling across countries and entering the US, the UK and Canada illegally.

“Now, things have become stricter in America. Otherwise, such show-off was being done proudly earlier. It was discouraging for genuine aspirants,” overseas education consultant Vinay Kumar Hari, who has offices across Punjab, said.

According to France-based Punjabi NRI Sunny Sandhu, “It is time to make Punjab great and stop running after the American model. People should not follow illegal means. They need to explore opportunities in India. There is so much to do in the field of ecotourism, sustainability, organic farming, agro-based businesses etc.”