Location and situation of Dingucha
The real story of Dunki is Dunkey Process Dingucha, a village 13 kilometers from Gujarat’s capital, Gandhinagar. It has a population of roughly 3000 people, yet more than half of the houses are abandoned and closed. Approximately 1,800 villagers have relocated, leaving their village and the Country. “They couldn’t get jobs; it’d be better abroad.” “If we don’t go to America, our children will have a rough life here.”
Such placards may be found all across Dingucha. ‘Study in the United Kingdom or Canada’ ‘Free Application’ ‘Offer Letter in 3 Days’ The most widely promoted item in this village is a visa to the United States or Canada. Many advertisements offer to grant you a visa without having to take any exams.
The Patel Family’s Tragic Story
When a family in Dingucha saw their fellow villagers leave for America in January 2022, they decided to join them. Jagdish Patel, 39, his wife, and their two children boarded a plane bound for Canada. Jagdish had been a teacher in the hamlet before assisting his brother with his textile business. However, he could only earn $9,000–$10,000 each month.
Poverty and unemployment drove them to this conclusion. The Patel family raised $6.5 million to hire an agent to transport them to America via the ‘donkey method.’ His wife, Vaishali Ben, wished to work in a beauty boutique in America. And Jagdish desired a better education for his children.
They left their village with these hopes. The Patels flew to Toronto on January 12. The ‘donkey process’ involved the agent dumping them near the US-Canada border, where they were expected to walk the rest of the way, illegally crossing the American border. Tragically, the family’s lifeless bodies were discovered by police just 12 meters from the border, less than a week after they arrived in Toronto.
The harsh reality of the frigid weather killed the family of four. Perhaps they were unaware they would have to cross the border in temperatures as low as -35°C, resulting in a tragic ending to their narrative. But Jagdish’s family was not the only one to perish.
After arriving in Toronto on January 12, they traveled to Manitoba, Canada, which is 2,100 kilometers away. A week later, as shown on this map, they were dumped near Emerson, a small town. On the Canadian side of the border, near North Dakota and Minnesota.
There was no evidence of a car nearby when their remains were discovered, indicating that they had been walking for a long time. On the day their deaths were found, a 47-year-old US citizen called Steve Shand was detained in Canada, 8 kilometers from Emerson. He was driving a 15-seater van carrying two Gujaratis.
Five more Gujaratis were later discovered 400 meters into American territory. When they were apprehended, they claimed to have been trekking for 11 hours. One of these five people carried a rucksack containing diapers, toys, and children’s clothing.
They said it was not in their bag. They claimed that four other people with them became separated along the route. That family owned the bag. Despite the botched attempt, at least seven people survived. Later, they and the American citizen were arrested by American authorities.
The real story of Dunki & The Donkey Process
But Jagdish’s family was not the only one to perish. Thousands of Indians attempt to illegally enter countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom each year. Making use of the ‘donkey procedure’ Unfortunately, many people are killed while attempting this. This is why the United States-Mexico border is known as the world’s most dangerous.
Rajkumar Hirani and Shahrukh Khan
A new film, Dunki, directed by Rajkumar Hirani and starring Shahrukh Khan, sheds light on this subject. So, let us use this chance to comprehend this procedure better. ” The ‘donkey fly’ or ‘donkey process’ refers to entering a nation without a legitimate visa. Initially, this word was only linked with the United Kingdom; many Indians moved to the United Kingdom in this manner.
First, they traveled to Europe’s Schengen zone, a grouping of 27 European countries where only the Schengen visa is necessary. Anyone with a Schengen visa can enter any of these countries.
Although the UK was not a member of the Schengen zone, its proximity to Europe permitted people to travel to the UK via different routes in Europe, including trucks, vehicles, or even long walks. According to Migration Policy Institute data, even a decade ago, approximately 150 Indians were deported from the UK every month. However, the ‘donkey procedure’ has developed to include a variety of backdoor entries, with a preference for entering the US rather than the UK.
Many visa agencies and companies in India enable this procedure, with agents involved in transporting passengers known as ‘bonkers.’ Gujarat and Punjab are two Indian states well-known for being the leading exporters of illegal immigrants. However, since unemployment has increased recently, Haryana has entered this competitive field.
These agencies charge different fees for their services depending on the package selected. I’m not kidding; they offer various packages, such as a deluxe vacation package that includes forging bogus documents, travel support, and more affordable ones.
For people on a tight budget, agencies may drop them near the border and leave them to finish the journey on foot. Depending on the package chosen, these organizations can charge anything from $2.5 million to $6 million.
Individuals who fall victim to these companies are either unaware that ordinary visa fees are never this high, or they are the ones who fail to obtain a regular visa. They may fail to meet specific standards for obtaining a visa, so they may believe they have no choice but to make these payments. Regular visa applications are avoided due to the illegal nature of this process. Unfortunately, to obtain this big sum, people must sell their farms and homes or deplete their whole life savings.
These agencies and companies must bear some blame and accountability because they frequently mislead individuals with misleading promises. They promise recruits a smooth voyage to America and many job prospects, neatly obscuring the hardships and legal hurdlesawaitingt them. Many people who are unaware of these issues are easily duped. These businesses take advantage of the information gap.
Reasons For Choosing The Donkey Process
There are three main reasons
- Economic Opportunities.
- Rising unemployment in the Country.
- Political Persecution.
Asylum and Immigration Process
The United Nations Refugee Agency defines asylum as a type of protection. When someone seeks refuge in a Country, that government agrees to protect them, enabling the individual to live there even though they face danger in their own Country. This threat could be political, with someone facing harm or even death. It could also include religious or racial prejudice.
Individuals who utilize the ‘donkey path’ frequently approach the Border Patrol and claim to be seeking refuge. There are around 5 or 6 types of persecution, including religious persecution (discrimination against you because of your religious beliefs), criminal persecution (crimes done against you), and political persecution (a person is threatened because of their political convictions). If someone’s ethnic or regional identity is in jeopardy, Another type of persecution is caste-based persecution, in which a person is oppressed because of their caste. Or the persecution of a social group. If there is violence against the social group to which you belong, Women, for example, or the LGBT+ group.
Technically, there could be numerous explanations. While those who enter the Country illegally may use any of these reasons, an immigration judge must decide whether these claims are valid or justified. Individuals who cross the border and seek asylum must submit their case in immigration court, offering reasons and reasoning.
It is critical to demonstrate in court that the allegations presented are accurate. Many people, understandably, may lie to conceal their true motivations. Either of the two reasons I mentioned earlier. Individuals face deportation in such circumstances, notwithstanding the millions they have already spent.
Furthermore, being detected lying could result in a ban that prevents future legal travel to America. It is crucial to recognize that some people face circumstances that force them to take the ‘donkey flight.’ Consider the case of Jashanpreet Singh of Jalandhar.
Jashan, a 24-year-old openly gay guy residing in Jalandhar, is highlighted in this story. He was subjected to regular discrimination and harassment by neighbors and strangers. Things got so bad that one day, he was physically attacked instead of just verbally abused.
He recalls being ambushed by a group of 15–20 individuals who were attempting to kill him. As a result, one of his hands was mutilated. He pondered relocating to another Indian city. He was fearful because Indian culture is not very accepting of LGBT+ issues.
He eventually took the ‘donkey path’ through Turkey and France to reach the Mexican border and enter America. After crossing the border, Jashanpreet asked for asylum, which he received. The question is, why did you choose the ‘donkey route’? The simple explanation is that refuge is only granted to those physically present in the Country. To be eligible for asylum in the United States, one must be on American land.
However, such cases are uncommon, and it is essential to remember that economic migration does not qualify as asylum. Individuals seeking asylum may face months or even years of inquiry, including possible mistreatment or torture. Processing asylum claims can take years, and even if you’ve been in America for years, they may decide that you lied, putting you at risk of deportation.
It’s also crucial to note that when people cross the border, they aren’t immediately taken to immigration court. Instead, they are first placed in detention centers, where they are subjected to inhumane living circumstances.
There are detention camps where many people are crammed into a small room. And they must remain there for weeks or months until the authorities summon them. The police officers are pleasant. Yes, the officers. They take good care of you here. But, as I have stated, you are trapped inside. You are not liberated. You’re feeling down.
