Punjab woman deported from US urges govt to help her return to UK: ‘Never told we were being taken to India’

Speaking to The Indian Express, the Jagraon resident said, “We never intended to enter the US illegally. We had legally travelled to Mexico and did not attempt to cross the border by jumping across the wall or any other illegal way. We were at the Tijuana border when the police stopped us and said that soon the US authorities would take us away. I still have a valid study visa for the UK so why have I been deported to India?”

“A bus came and we were taken to the detention centre where we spent 10 days. They did not ask us anything and only checked our passports. We were a group of at least 40. We had only gone to Mexico.”

When asked why she went to Mexico, Muskan said: “I along with my friends had gone for a holiday trip to the Tijuana border.”

Amid sobs, Muskan said they were never told that they were being deported to India. “We did not face any misbehaviour by the US authorities in any manner. Par unhone humein nahi bataya tha ki India leke jaa rahe hain (They did not tell us that we were being taken to India). It was only after the plane landed in Amritsar that we got to know that we had landed in India. That is when I called my parents to inform them that I have reached Amritsar,” she said.

Huge debts

Like other people who have been deported by the US, Muskan said her family also borrowed money from others to send her abroad. “My family had taken a loan of Rs 15 lakh along with some small loans from relatives and friends to send me to the UK for studies. I hope the government will understand our family’s financial condition and allow me to return to the UK to complete my studies,” said Muskan whose father runs a small eatery in Jagraon.

“Now, I am being told that I won’t be allowed to fly to the UK or anywhere else. My two-year course is still pending. I want to return and complete my studies. I humbly appeal to the government to please help me. If I don’t return to the UK, my entire career will be spoiled,” she said.

While expressing shock at her deportation, her father said, “We weren’t aware of this at all. I only got to know at 5 pm yesterday when she called us from Amritsar airport. We are relieved that she is back home safe.”

Jagraon MLA Sarvjit Kaur Manuke has appealed to the government to help the woman travel back to the UK to complete her studies in London. “The family is in debt. It is really important for her to complete her studies so that she can settle in life and help her family,” said Manuke.

However, the woman in her statement to the officials recorded at Amritsar airport revealed that she had gone to UK on study visa through an agent and later reached Mexico via Bahamas to cross the US border.