Ahmedabad: She was willing to give up everything — her marriage, her stability, her reputation— for a chance to make a life in America. Drawn into a relationship with a human smuggler, Vinita (name changed on request), a resident of Kalol, left behind her husband and daughter, convinced that her new partner is the key to her American dream. But while he made it to the US, the 30-year-old’s journey ended at the border, where her asylum claim fell apart, landing her in detention before she was sent back home — her dreams in ruins and her old life beyond reach.
Her journey began in 2016 when she married a man from Mehsana and started a family. But in 2021, she met a human smuggler from North Gujarat, a man known for his near-perfect record of sneaking people into the US. What started as a business transaction soon turned personal. Vinita fell for the man who promised her a life in America. Driven by love and ambition, she divorced her husband to marry the smuggler, convinced he would help her cross into the “Land of the Free And Home of the Brave”.
The smuggler, an agent in a larger network based in Punjab, assured Vinita he would illegally enter the US first and then arrange for her passage. True to his word, he illegally crossed the border in Dec 2024. Weeks later, Vinita embarked on her own perilous journey. Her route took her through Dubai before she was smuggled to Mexico, where she prepared to cross into the US.
On Jan 20, she arrived at the US border with a fabricated asylum plea. Following the script taught by the human smuggler, she alleged she was being harassed in India due to her caste. But the ruse failed.
US immigration officials saw through the deception and detained her. Instead of a new life in America, Vinita spent 15 days in detention before being deported back to India. She was among 33 Gujaratis sent home, their dreams of a fresh start in the US crushed.
‘Stop chasing an imaginary life in the US’
Jignesh Zala, 37, a resident of Jamla village in Gandhinagar district, is left haunted by a traumatic immigration experience that has changed his outlook forever.
Accompanied by his wife and 11-year-old twin daughters, Zala’s journey took them from Delhi to Paris, Madrid, Salvador, and finally to Mexico, where they crossed the border into the US. But soon, their hopes were dashed. “We were caught and taken to the detention centre where my wife, my children and I were separated. As if the armed smugglers in Mexico and long treks were not traumatic enough, all we got to eat at the centres was apples, fruit juice and chips,” recounts Zala.
The sense of constant fear got alleviated only after stepping foot on Indian soil, he says. “The guards were not abusive, but a sense of dread was strong. I can only imagine what my daughters went through. Cuffing our hands and legs was the last straw,” Zala adds.
Hands folded, Zala warns: “Be happy with whatever you have here. Do not run after an imaginary life in the US. I vow never to repeat this ever again.”
He sold his house to fund his American dream
Ketul Patel, 40, from Manud village near Gandhinagar, saw his dreams of a better life crumble after he, his wife and children, aged 11 and 17, were deported from the US.
Ketul had sold their property in Surat to fund their journey. The family had planned for a new life, but now, they have returned to his native village.
Dixit Patel, one of his neighbours in Manud, confirms the family returned, but has sought refuge in an acquaintance’s residence to avoid questions related to the incident. “They are in distress, and we do not know their whereabouts,” he adds.
Another neighbour reveals the family possibly went to the US about six months ago. “We are yet to talk to the family. More details can be ascertained only after we talk to them,” said the neighbour.
Handcuffed, Padra woman reels from shock
It was the most harrowing flight that Khushbu Patel, 29, had ever taken in her life. Handcuffed along with 103 other deportees on a US military plane, she returned to India on Wednesday. She reached her house in Luna village of Padra taluka in Vadodara on Thursday morning.
Her father, Jayanti, a farmer, was relieved to have her back: “I was under tremendous stress. I’m happy she’s safe.”
“My sister was handcuffed, treated like a prisoner. It caused trauma,” said her brother, Varun. He explained they knew she was going to the US, but not the route. Khushbu arrived in the US 25 days ago and was detained shortly after. Varun was unsure which documents she lacked, only knowing she travelled on a tourist visa. Inspector Vijay Charan said, “She was in shock and will give a detailed statement later.”
Khushbu married Parth Patel from Kalol last year. Sources said she went to join her husband, who is reportedly in the US. Her father, however, said he doesn’t know his son-in-law’s whereabouts.
Farmer had gone to US in search of greener pastures
Satvantsinh Rajput, 39, from Ganeshpura near Sidhpur, set off on what he described as a two-month tour of seven European countries but returned after two months, not with souvenirs, but as a deportee on a military aircraft. Rajput’s family was unaware of his illegal entry into the US until his return.
His brother Jeet, still in shock, reveals that Satvantsinh had a valid visa for Europe but somehow ended up in the US. “His wife and two kids stayed back. We do not know how he reached the US. He is in distress so he might reveal the details once he recovers,” Jeet says.
Satvantsinh and his family members locked their house and left after being dropped back by Patan police.
Relatives reveal that along with four bighas of farmland that he shares with his brother, he also got agricultural land on lease. His father had passed away a few years ago.
Her journey began in 2016 when she married a man from Mehsana and started a family. But in 2021, she met a human smuggler from North Gujarat, a man known for his near-perfect record of sneaking people into the US. What started as a business transaction soon turned personal. Vinita fell for the man who promised her a life in America. Driven by love and ambition, she divorced her husband to marry the smuggler, convinced he would help her cross into the “Land of the Free And Home of the Brave”.
The smuggler, an agent in a larger network based in Punjab, assured Vinita he would illegally enter the US first and then arrange for her passage. True to his word, he illegally crossed the border in Dec 2024. Weeks later, Vinita embarked on her own perilous journey. Her route took her through Dubai before she was smuggled to Mexico, where she prepared to cross into the US.
On Jan 20, she arrived at the US border with a fabricated asylum plea. Following the script taught by the human smuggler, she alleged she was being harassed in India due to her caste. But the ruse failed.
US immigration officials saw through the deception and detained her. Instead of a new life in America, Vinita spent 15 days in detention before being deported back to India. She was among 33 Gujaratis sent home, their dreams of a fresh start in the US crushed.
‘Stop chasing an imaginary life in the US’
Jignesh Zala, 37, a resident of Jamla village in Gandhinagar district, is left haunted by a traumatic immigration experience that has changed his outlook forever.
Accompanied by his wife and 11-year-old twin daughters, Zala’s journey took them from Delhi to Paris, Madrid, Salvador, and finally to Mexico, where they crossed the border into the US. But soon, their hopes were dashed. “We were caught and taken to the detention centre where my wife, my children and I were separated. As if the armed smugglers in Mexico and long treks were not traumatic enough, all we got to eat at the centres was apples, fruit juice and chips,” recounts Zala.
The sense of constant fear got alleviated only after stepping foot on Indian soil, he says. “The guards were not abusive, but a sense of dread was strong. I can only imagine what my daughters went through. Cuffing our hands and legs was the last straw,” Zala adds.
Hands folded, Zala warns: “Be happy with whatever you have here. Do not run after an imaginary life in the US. I vow never to repeat this ever again.”
He sold his house to fund his American dream
Ketul Patel, 40, from Manud village near Gandhinagar, saw his dreams of a better life crumble after he, his wife and children, aged 11 and 17, were deported from the US.
Ketul had sold their property in Surat to fund their journey. The family had planned for a new life, but now, they have returned to his native village.
Dixit Patel, one of his neighbours in Manud, confirms the family returned, but has sought refuge in an acquaintance’s residence to avoid questions related to the incident. “They are in distress, and we do not know their whereabouts,” he adds.
Another neighbour reveals the family possibly went to the US about six months ago. “We are yet to talk to the family. More details can be ascertained only after we talk to them,” said the neighbour.
Handcuffed, Padra woman reels from shock
It was the most harrowing flight that Khushbu Patel, 29, had ever taken in her life. Handcuffed along with 103 other deportees on a US military plane, she returned to India on Wednesday. She reached her house in Luna village of Padra taluka in Vadodara on Thursday morning.
Her father, Jayanti, a farmer, was relieved to have her back: “I was under tremendous stress. I’m happy she’s safe.”
“My sister was handcuffed, treated like a prisoner. It caused trauma,” said her brother, Varun. He explained they knew she was going to the US, but not the route. Khushbu arrived in the US 25 days ago and was detained shortly after. Varun was unsure which documents she lacked, only knowing she travelled on a tourist visa. Inspector Vijay Charan said, “She was in shock and will give a detailed statement later.”
Khushbu married Parth Patel from Kalol last year. Sources said she went to join her husband, who is reportedly in the US. Her father, however, said he doesn’t know his son-in-law’s whereabouts.
Farmer had gone to US in search of greener pastures
Satvantsinh Rajput, 39, from Ganeshpura near Sidhpur, set off on what he described as a two-month tour of seven European countries but returned after two months, not with souvenirs, but as a deportee on a military aircraft. Rajput’s family was unaware of his illegal entry into the US until his return.
His brother Jeet, still in shock, reveals that Satvantsinh had a valid visa for Europe but somehow ended up in the US. “His wife and two kids stayed back. We do not know how he reached the US. He is in distress so he might reveal the details once he recovers,” Jeet says.
Satvantsinh and his family members locked their house and left after being dropped back by Patan police.
Relatives reveal that along with four bighas of farmland that he shares with his brother, he also got agricultural land on lease. His father had passed away a few years ago.
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