Even when an American military plane that transported several Indians, who were deported from the United States, came to Amritssar on Wednesday afternoon; he Punjabi Association of North America (NAPA), a non -partisan and non -sectarian global organization that serves the Punjabi diaspora worldwide; He urged the Punjab government to establish a substantial rehabilitation fund to support the deported young people. According to reports, 30 people out of 104 are from Punjab.
“For the most part, young people aged 20 and 30 are reckless and push their parents for money to emigrate to the United States through illegal routes. The American and more mature American immigration candidates generally explore legal methods, ”said Satnam Singh Chahal, executive director of Napa, to The Times of India from his home in northern California.
He added that the lack of support and resources for deported returnees could lead to severe social and economic challenges for them and unemployment issues, mental health crisis and increased crimes and illegal activities for the Punjab government. “Many of these young people leave their homes with dreams of a better future, but they are deported due to immigration challenges. They return with shattered hopes, financial difficulties and psychological trauma. There will be many challenges for their families and communities if no one is willing to help them. The Punjab government must assume the responsibility of guaranteeing its rehabilitation and reintegration in society, ”said Chahal. He proposed that the state government assign financial resources for skills development programs, employment opportunities and mental health advice to help deported to rebuild their lives.
Chahal, who had visited a detention center in Salt Lake in Utah in 2016, to help 60 Punjab detainees who were accused of trying to illegally enter the US. UU., They urged those in charge of formulating policies to interact with community organizations such as NAPA to create comprehensive strategies to address the issues effectively. “In 2016, after maintaining discussions with the authorities in the detention center and highlighted the inhuman conditions in which the Punjab detainees were being held, a committee was formed that recommended the release of the 60 detainees. Also in Punjab, the problem must be addressed as a broader social problem and a human solution found, ”added Chahal. “If we do not act now, the consequences will be serious, not only for young people but for the social fabric and economy of Punjab as a whole.”
Chahal added that it is important to disseminate the message among young people in Punjab on the safe and legal immigration routes to the United States, such as enrolling for higher education in the universities of the United States or marriage with US citizens and the holders of Green cards. “Illegal immigration has always been badly seen by US authorities and it is not worth running. In fact, it is not just the Trump administration, the deportation numbers of India were high even under the administrations of Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, ”he said.