The movie "Dunki," with Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role and directed by Rajkumar Hirani, came out in theaters. We talked to some young people from different places who traveled overseas using the unofficial donkey path.

 

Dunki Meaning

Many people have been curious about the film's topic, what is Dunki? At the start, the movie shows five close friends – Hardy (played by SRK), Buggu (Vikram Kochhar), Sukhi (Vicky Kaushal), Manu (Taapsee Pannu), and Balli (Anil Grover) from Laltu village in Punjab, India. They all dream of going to the UK for a better life. In the first part of the movie, they try to learn English and preperations for their journey - only to finally resort to the “donkey route”, the illegal backdoor entry to a foreign country via hopping through multiple destinations.

This seems to be fictional but in reality, several youth from Punjab, Up, Haryana and some other states are trying to get enter to the Western countries with the help of shady immigration agents. They're often sent on risky journeys, called "Donkey Flights,", a term based on the Punjabi word ‘Dunki’ meaning to “hop from place to place”.

To put things into perspective, back in 2013, the number of Indians trying to cross into the US illegally was almost negligible. However, the scenario began to change notably from 2017. By the time 2019 rolled around, the numbers started skyrocketing. Astonishingly, during the 2020-2021 period, over 30,000 Indians attempted to make this unauthorized entry. The figures took an even more alarming turn in the subsequent year, with a staggering 63,927 attempts recorded in 2021-2022.

Even more recent data, spanning from October 2022 to September 2023, paints an even larger picture. During this timeframe alone, the number surged to a whopping 96,000. This means that close to 100,000 Indians endeavour to enter the US without proper documentation annually.

Going deeper into these statistics, of these 97,000 individuals from India, around 30,000 were apprehended in Canada. Additionally, a substantial 41,000 were nabbed near the Mexico-US border. While this issue is not exclusive to India, several other countries are facing the same problem.

Mexico also witnesses a significant number of its citizens attempting this unauthorized entry, given Mexico shares its borders with the US. In contrast, when considering Asian nations, India's figures are notably higher.

As per the study by the Center for Migration Studies back in 2015 highlighted that approximately 450,000 Indians were living in the US without proper documentation. This number even surpassed China's figures, which stood close to 400,000.

Donkey Visa

The Dunki Scam's Beginning

Originating primarily from South Asia, the Dunki scam operates as a sophisticated network that promises individuals an easy way to move to other countries. By using gaps in immigration rules and tricking people, this scam has changed over time to work around tough laws.


The Dunki Steps:

First Contact and Promises

People are often contacted through middlemen or online, where they're told about easy immigration. The promise of a better life and good jobs draws many in. They oftenly target youths from a particular region or village.


Money Matters

Once involved, people are pushed to pay lots of money, from fees to fake document costs. These payments, hard to track but easy to support the Dunki Scams.


Fake Documents

A big part of the Dunki scam is making and spreading fake documents. Fake Passports and Job papers seem like the way in but trap victims in lies.


Technology in Dunki Scams

Dunki scammers use technology more now. They use secure chats and advanced tools, making it hard for authorities to catch them, track their payments, network, etc. 


What's after Successful Donking?

People caught in the Dunki scam lose a lot of money with nothing in return. This hits their families hard, leading to debt and sadness. Some who successfully crossed borders, get themselves caught to the Border forces to seek "Asylum" meaning justifying the reason to take the Donkey Route". It's a time taking process which may take years and till then the immigrants are literally being kept in "Asylums" with no infrastructure unless the judgement is done. As the name suggests "Donkey".


Legal Issues

Getting involved with Dunki scams can mean serious legal problems like being sent back, being banned, or going to jail. This legal mess makes things worse for victims.


Measures to Stop Dunki

Telling people about the Dunki scam is key to keeping them safe. Teaching and reaching out can help people understand how the scammers work. Countries need to work together to make stronger immigration rules. A united effort with strict checks can stop Dunki scams from spreading.

In short, the Dunki scam is a complex lie that needs close watch and strong rules to stop. By understanding it and working together, we can reduce its harmful effects.

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