If you are stuck abroad without visa and money, how can you return to your country? You get eaten by wild animals or drown in the Donkey Route

New Delhi: At least 666 Asian migrants, including Indians and Nepalis, are stuck at Sao Paulo Airport in Brazil. These migrants are waiting to enter Brazil at Sao Paulo International Airport in Guarulhos without a visa. Their condition is very bad and they have to sleep hungry on the floor there. There are not even blankets for their children. In fact, Brazil has banned the entry of some Asians who have taken refuge in their country to migrate to the US and Canada from August 27, 2024. This move will also affect those Asian migrants who need a visa to stay in Brazil. Recently, the Ministry of External Affairs has said that food and water are being given to Indian citizens stranded at Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport. The Indian Consulate is in touch with Brazilian officials. Efforts are being made to gather complete information about the matter.
Let us know what is the donkey route or donkey flight, by which some Indians go abroad? What should be done if you are stuck abroad without a visa? How should this problem be overcome?

Brazil becomes a stopover to go to America and Canada

Starting August 27, Brazil has begun restricting the entry of some Asians seeking asylum in the country in an attempt to migrate to the US and Canada. This will effectively stop the movement of foreigners who use Brazil as a stopover to travel to the US and Canada. According to a report titled ‘Migrants Staying in Brazil’, the move will affect Asian migrants who need visas to stay in Brazil. Migrants book tickets to other places at Sao Paulo’s international airport but end up staying in Brazil to seek asylum instead of continuing their journey. According to the International Organization for Migration, the number of migrants around the world currently represents 36% of the global population.
No passport or visa… American was living in India for 10 years, when he/she was caught on Nepal border a big revelation happened

Brazil will not allow people from 5 countries including India to enter

South American country Brazil is preparing to impose a complete ban on the Donkey Route so that this illegal immigration can be stopped. Brazil has geared up for this. Brazil will no longer allow air immigrants from 5 Asian countries including India to enter the country. Apart from India, these countries also include Vietnam, Nepal, Bangladesh and Indonesia. Now immigrants coming from these countries without visa will not be allowed to enter Brazil.

What is donkey root and how dangerous is it

Donkey route or donkey flight is a way to travel from one country to another illegally. This route is used to reach America, Canada and some European countries. Donkey route means the backdoor way to go abroad. Every year, thousands and lakhs of people adopt the illegal way of ‘donkey route’ to go abroad. This is extremely dangerous and life-threatening. There is no guarantee of reaching the destination.

Some die of thirst and many are eaten by wild animals

People often pay the price for this with their lives. Even if someone reaches through this route, he/she is either sent back or put in jail. The journey through the Donkey Route is extremely dangerous. There are dangers like lack of clean water, wild animals and criminal gangs on this route. Women are always at risk of rape and robbery. During the journey through the Donkey Route, some people die by getting trapped in a snowstorm, while some drown while crossing a river or sea. Some are even eaten by wild animals.

9 thousand people had to lose their lives in this illegal migration

Dunki comes from the Punjabi word ‘dunky’, which means to jump, leap or hop. That is, in this journey, people are sent to different countries with frequent stops. Last year, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has said that in the year 2023, 8,565 migrants died while traveling on land and sea routes across the world. IOM said that the number of migrant deaths increased by about 20% in the year 2023 compared to the year 2022.

The most dangerous place on the Donkey Route is the jungles of Panama

Travel agents used to arrange direct flights for Indians from Delhi to Serbia, where they would land in Belgrade. After this, they would be taken to Hungary and then to Austria. Austria shares its border with Italy, Switzerland and Germany. In such a situation, Indians used to reach there illegally. From here, after crossing the Panama jungle, the next stop is Guatemala. Guatemala is the biggest hub of human trafficking, from where the Donkey people are handed over to another agent. From here they are taken to the border of Mexico, where the agents smuggle them into the US or Canada illegally. Shahrukh Khan’s film Donkey was based on this.

7.25 lakh Indians are living illegally in America

According to the US Customs and Border Protection (USCBP), Indian citizens are the fifth largest group of illegal immigrants entering the US from the southwest border. Between October 2022 and September 2023, 96,917 Indians were caught crossing the border illegally into the US. Of these, 30,010 were caught on the Canadian border and 41,770 on the Mexican border. According to the USCBP, 1,49,000 Indians were detained for attempting to enter the US illegally between February 2019 and March 2023. Most of these people were from Gujarat and Punjab. At the same time, according to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, more than 7,25,000 Indians are living illegally in the US.

Why Brazil takes the donkey route to America

Latin American countries are very helpful in entering America-Canada through the donkey route. Countries like Ecuador, Bolivia and Guyana have the facility of ‘visa on arrival’ for Indian citizens. Tourist visa is also easily available in countries like Brazil and Venezuela.

How to travel through Donkey Route, how much do the agents charge

Travelling through the donkey route is like that of an intruder. Sometimes one tries to reach one’s destination by walking, sometimes by hiding in the trunk of a car, a transport truck or sometimes in a cargo ship. This method is not only expensive but also deadly and tiring. Agents charge lakhs of rupees to illegally enter a country through the donkey route. Agents charge up to 50 lakh rupees to send people to America and Europe, for which many people sell their land and houses.

But here you can visit 62 countries like Mauritius, Thailand without visa

According to the new report of Henley Passport Index 2024, the credibility of the Indian passport has increased and now due to this Indians will get visa free entry in 62 countries of the world. The credibility of the Indian passport has increased and now due to this Indians will get visa free entry in 62 countries of the world. This report can be a reason of good news for those who are planning to visit countries like Thailand, Mauritius, Oman. With the strengthening of the Indian passport, now the citizens of India will not need a visa to enter 62 countries.

It is necessary to have a passport in any case, otherwise difficulties will increase

Not just America, Germany, India, people of every country in the world need two things the most to travel to other countries. First is passport and second is visa. Without a passport, not only a common man but even the President or Prime Minister cannot travel to any country. But, there are three people in the world who neither need a passport nor a visa to travel to any country. These are either the King or Queen of Britain and both the King and Queen of Japan.

Be sure to check this before going abroad

Check your passport’s expiration date before traveling abroad. Generally, your passport must be valid for at least six months before you enter a country. Also check if the country you are visiting requires a tourist visa.

• Do proper research about the country you are going to. Understand the rules and regulations there.
• Before going on a foreign trip, get your medical checkup done. Also carry necessary medicines with you.
• Inform your bank about your trip. Also inform the credit card company.
• Keep all the necessary government documents with you including your passport, Aadhar card, ID, visa.

Take ‘help’ from Foreign Ministry, lodge complaint

If you are stuck abroad or have any other problem, the victim and his/her family members can register their complaint on the ‘madad@gov.in’ portal of the Ministry of External Affairs. On the Madad portal, you can register a complaint about any problem you are facing abroad. You can register a complaint with information like mobile number, email ID etc.

Read this advice of the Ministry of External Affairs before going abroad

Keep photocopies of your passport (including visa pages), insurance policies, traveller’s cheques, visa and credit card numbers. Keep these in a separate place from the original documents and also keep a copy with someone at home. Follow the laws of the country you are visiting. Report loss, theft or damage of passport immediately. Carry extra photographs for passport. Stay in touch with friends and family at home and give them a copy of your insurance policy details and details of your trip abroad. If you are going to be abroad for a reasonable period of time, contact the local Indian Embassy/Consulate for registration before leaving India or immediately after arrival so that you can get better consular assistance and updates.