Panjabi Songs Glorify Illegal Immigration

Panjabi music industry is witnessing a rising trend of songs glorifying the dunki (illegal donkey route) routes for illegal immigration to the US. Tracks like Trump by Gur Sidhu and Cheema Y reference scaling walls and evading authorities, portraying migration via Mexico as a heroic feat instead of a perilous gamble. These songs, often accompanied by social media reels of travelers proudly striking poses while crossing borders, highlight the perceived glamour of earning quick money in the US, overshadowing harsh realities such as detention camps and staggering debts. In America Wala, singers Ravraaz and Ravi Rbs praise illegal entrants who spend USD 46K to bypass study visas, claiming they can recoup these costs rapidly and even support families back home. Deep Sidhu’s popular songs America and America 2 narrate how the dunki path transforms entire lives overnight, while Sukh Bhullar’s America depicts idle youth drawn by the promise of fast success. By contrast, a few artists, like Happy Raikoti, caution that dangerous routes can lead to death, urging Panjabi youth to rethink the obsession with foreign lands. Observers blame these songs for trivializing life-threatening journeys and discouraging legal methods, though critics note the underlying push factors—economic desperation, limited local opportunities, and surging demand for Western lifestyles—as responsible for these journeys. The phenomenon extends beyond music: the film Aaja Mexico Challiye (Let’s Go to Mexico) dramatizes how unscrupulous agents lure desperate youth, forcing them through jungles and uncertain fates. While many Panjabis romanticize these escapes, the recent deportation flights landing in Amritsar reveal grim truths of captivity, fraud, and tragic outcomes. As more stories of shattered dreams emerge, the debate intensifies over whether these tunes merely reflect social reality or directly incite perilous decisions among disillusioned aspirants seeking a foothold in a foreign land.