The Craze of Migration Out of Panjab & the Risks It Entails

October

2026

In Feb 2025, after a US military plane with 104 Indians landed in Amritsar—the first set of deportations under the Trump administration—many wondered if the great migration out of Panjab would end or slow down. However, months later, three deported from Bagrian, Kapurthala district, packed their bags again for Spain. The deportations have not ended the migration story, but merely altered its direction. A travel agency representative speaking anonymously, says that deportation from the US does not bar an applicant from seeking and getting a Schengen visa for Europe, but it could lower their chances. Another travel agent said those who left for Europe may have had to take the illegal route. He says, ‘Spain has become a preferred destination because it is easy to arrange a tourist visa there for around USD 10K. This is much cheaper than going to the US or Canada. Later, it is easy to extend the visa and even get a work permit. Besides, the borders are very fluid, and the boys from Panjab often move to Portugal or even Italy.’ In Bagrian, almost every household has one or two members living abroad. 42-year-old Maninder Singh, who belongs to the Dalit Mazhabi (marginalized caste) community, worked as a doctor’s assistant at a clinic. For better opportunities for his children, he decided to try his luck in the US in 2025. He took a loan of USD 31,517. Maninder was illegally crossing into the US from Mexico when he was held by US Border Patrol agents. A month after leaving home in January 2025, he returned to Bagrian. He is now employed as a farmhand near Barcelona but could only travel again after mortgaging his house. His wife Amandeep says, ‘He calls regularly from Spain and says he will soon start sending money.’ Meanwhile, his family survives on his parents' old-age pension, free rations, and the USD 31.52 that Amandeep and her mother-in-law have received since July under the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna (welfare scheme for women). Amandeep is a university graduate but can’t work because she runs the house. In Panjab, one in seven households has a family member living abroad. Families take huge risks and spend an average of USD 30K to send their kids abroad by illegal means. Also, 20% of families have sold their assets like land to fund these journeys (earlier coverage).