The migrant's pain

Several questions are bound to be asked on the return of 276 Indians bound for Nicaragua to Mumbai by an Airbus 340 aircraft of Legend Airlines of Romania after being stranded for four days at Vatry airport of France.

The chartered aircraft was held up by the French authorities on suspicion of being involved in human trafficking.

But information available shows that the passengers were carrying documents that had no irregularities although 25 of the on board passengers chose to seek asylum in France.

Nicaragua and Mexico are usual transit points for those seeking to enter the United States illegally.

Yet no one among the passengers have pointed at any central figure coordinating the entire operations, albeit they were unarguably destined to ultimately seek entry into the Eldorado, the United States, as is apparent from investigations into previous such adventures or misadventures.

While no motives can be attributed in the light of available information as of now, it is pertinent to ask as to why the aircraft was returned to Mumbai instead of being allowed to proceed on its destination.

Data released by the US Customs and Border Protection reveals that a staggering 96,917 Indians were apprehended while crossing into the United States without documentation between October 2022 and September 2023.

What can be said with certainty is that there exists a network of agents and operators who thrive in the business of illegal migrations and that it is people from relatively well-off states such as Gujarat and Punjab who fall victims to their devious and daredevil designs.