AMRITSAR: Three days after 104 illegal immigrants were deported to India from the US, a family in Punjab's Amritsar was on Sunday informed that their 33-year-old son had lost his life in the forests of Guatemala while attempting to traverse the dangerous ‘donkey route' to enter the US.
According to the family, Gurpreet Singh, the only brother among seven siblings, was attempting to go to America illegally to improve his family's financial situation. It is learnt that he left through a travel agent three months ago. The family informed that Gurpreet suffered a heart attack near Guatemala, which caused his death. A man traveling with Gurpreet informed his family about the news over the phone.
Gurpreet went to England on a work permit six years ago, but he returned from there. This time, he dreamt of settling in America, but fate had other plans. The family said Gurpreet had paid Rs 36 lakh to a travel agent for reaching the US via the infamous ‘donkey route'.
Meanwhile, in response to the family's request to repatriate the body, Punjab NRI affairs minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, who visited the bereaved family to offer condolences, said the govt would make every effort to bring the body back to Punjab.
Dhaliwal also advised youth to pursue skill education in India and get better employment, instead of attempting to travel abroad illegally. He added youth should instead invest money on businesses at home.
Amritsar: Three days after 104 illegal immigrants were deported back to India from the US, a family in Punjab's Amritsar was on Sunday infromed that their 33-year-old son had lost his life in the forests of Guatemala while attempting to traverse the dangerous ‘donkey route' to enter the US.
According to his family, Gurpreet Singh, the only brother among seven siblings, was attempting to go to America illegally to improve his family's financial situation. It is learnt that he left through a travel agent three months ago. The family informed that Gurpreet suffered a heart attack near Guatemala, which caused his death. A man traveling with Gurpreet informed his family about the news over the phone.
Gurpreet went to England on a work permit six years ago, but he returned from there. This time, he dreamed of settling in America, but fate had other plans. The family informed that Gurpreet allegedly paid Rs 36 lakh to a travel agent for reaching the US via the infamous ‘donkey route'.
The tragedy has taken place at a time when a debate is raging over Indians attempting to enter the US illegally via the Mexico border. In response to the family's request to repatriate the body, Punjab NRI affairs minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, who visited the family's home in Amritsar's Ramdas to offer condolences, said the govt would make every effort to bring the body back to Punjab. Dhaliwal also advised youth to pursue skill education in India and get better employment, instead of attempting to travel abroad illegally. He added youth should instead invest money on businesses at home.
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