Mint Primer: Are real-life ‘donkey’ stories on the rise? – Gudstory

What does the word dinky mean?

The Punjabi word dunki, meaning to move or jump from one place to another, has inspired the term “donkey route”. The term refers to illegal border crossings via indirect routes with multiple stops in different countries. The final destination of many illegal immigrants is the United States, but they usually take advantage of loopholes to do so. They may first go to countries that allow visas on arrival from India, or use smuggling agents who get them visas directly. A popular route is to travel to Latin America or Central American countries like Nicaragua to first avoid strict scrutiny, and then travel to the US via dangerous routes crossing rivers and forests.

What forces people to migrate illegally?

Undocumented immigrants commonly choose to travel for a variety of reasons. Some flee poverty; Some people run away from violence. Some people may also be displaced by development measures such as the construction of large dams. Asylum seekers are usually lured to the border by agents promising easy passage to the US or EU. These agents charge high fees for fake documents and transport people by sea or flight. However, many remain as pawns in the thriving smuggling business. Human rights groups have documented instances where migrant workers’ access to their passports is manipulated to force them into forced labour.

What is the relationship between smuggling and trafficking?

Migrant smuggling is today an international crime and a thriving business. It is a business of crossing the border illegally but it is voluntary in nature. Unlike trafficking, human trafficking is defined by its involuntary nature. Traffickers force people to sell sex or work in abusive conditions or lie about it. Mostly, smuggling and illegal trade are linked to each other.

What do the numbers tell us?

According to US Customs and Border Protection data, between October 2022 and September 2023, 96,917 Indians were arrested for entering the US illegally. The 2023 Human Trafficking Report prepared by the US State Department shows that trafficking and smuggling trends are increasing, partly due to the increase in international conflicts. According to June 2023 data, the number of trafficking victims increased from 68,453 in 2016 to 115,324. The number of convictions fell from 9,072 to 5,577 during the same period.

What report has come from India?

In short, the numbers don’t paint a pretty picture. The latest available data from the National Crime Records Bureau for 2022 said states and union territories recorded 2,250 cases of human trafficking – an increase from 2,189 in 2021. The highest number of cases were in Telangana (391), Maharashtra (295) and. Bihar (260). Most were migrant workers who were forced into bonded labor and prostitution. However, experts warn that this data may be just the tip of the iceberg, as such crimes are historically under-reported.