A series of disturbing videos recorded by a young man from Haryana has shed light on the brutal reality of the so-called “donkey route,” an illegal migration pathway used by human traffickers to smuggle people into the United States through multiple countries, jungles, and dangerous border crossings. The footage, captured during a 168-day journey, documents extreme physical suffering, psychological trauma, and systematic extortion faced by migrants chasing the promise of a better life. The revelations have not only exposed the cruelty of trafficking networks but have also highlighted the desperation that pushes young people into the hands of agents who exploit hope and vulnerability for profit.
The videos were recorded by Yogesh, a resident of Umri village in Kurukshetra district, Haryana, who was eventually detained by US authorities and deported back to India after spending eight months in jail. Following his return, Yogesh filed a police complaint against the agents who allegedly defrauded him, after which his account of the donkey route journey came to public attention. His testimony, supported by visual evidence, offers a rare and chilling inside view of an underground network that operates across continents with little regard for human life.
How promises of a legal future turned into deception, detention, and extortion
According to Yogesh, his ordeal began in July 2024, when he was approached by three men from Karnal — Ankit Chaudhary, Vikas, and Guri — who presented themselves as government-approved immigration agents. They promised to send him legally to the United States with assurances of employment, life insurance, and complete security. For a young man seeking better opportunities abroad, the offer appeared credible and attractive. The agents demanded a total of ₹50 lakh, with ₹15 lakh taken upfront and the remaining amount to be paid after he reached America.
On July 22, 2024, Yogesh was informed that his ticket had been confirmed. Four days later, he flew from Delhi Airport and landed at Bijal Airport in Brazil on July 26. Instead of beginning a legitimate process toward work or settlement, he was immediately taken into police custody upon arrival. Confused and frightened, Yogesh contacted his family in India, who in turn reached out to the agents. They were told that his release could be secured, but only after paying an additional ₹15 lakh. Under pressure and fearing for his safety, the family arranged the money, believing this would resolve the situation.
After his release, Yogesh expected to be sent directly to the United States as promised. Instead, he was kept moving within Brazil for nearly one and a half months. During this period, the agents continued to reassure him that a direct flight to the US was imminent. Eventually, they informed him that he would have to travel through jungle routes instead. With little choice and already deeply entangled in the process, Yogesh was forced to comply.
From Brazil, he was transported by road through Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. Each leg of the journey brought new demands for money and new forms of intimidation. In Colombia, he was asked to pay another ₹1 lakh. From there, the route became even more dangerous as he was pushed through Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and finally Mexico. In Mexico, armed men allegedly threatened to kill him at gunpoint unless his family paid ₹32 lakh. Terrified for his life, Yogesh’s family managed to arrange the money. Yet even after this payment, the promises remained hollow.
When Yogesh finally crossed into the United States from Mexico, his journey did not end in freedom or opportunity. He was apprehended almost immediately by US forces. With no valid documents, he was placed in detention, where he remained for eight months before being deported back to India on September 11. The American dream he had been sold ended instead in imprisonment and forced return, leaving behind debt, trauma, and shattered trust.
Inside the 168-day donkey route journey through jungles, rivers, and containers
The most harrowing details of Yogesh’s story emerge from his account of the physical journey itself, much of which was captured on video. He described being transported from Brazil toward the Panama jungle in a car where ten people were squeezed into a vehicle designed for four. The windows were kept shut throughout the journey, making breathing difficult. At night, they were dropped deep inside the jungle and handed over to other smugglers known as “donkers,” who were armed with pistols and AK-47 rifles. The migrants were warned that any attempt to escape would result in being shot.
Inside the jungle, the group was forced to walk through mud-infested terrain crawling with insects. For two days, they were given no food or water. When food finally arrived, it consisted of rice served just once a day. Drinking water was taken directly from canals and rivers, raising serious health risks. The videos show exhausted young men with blistered feet, insects crawling over their bodies, and visible signs of dehydration and despair.
After days of walking, the group reached a river that they were supposed to cross. However, due to heavy rain, the river had swollen, and they were forced to wait for four days for a boat. During this time, they spent four nights exposed to continuous rain, cold, and hunger, hiding near the riverbank. Eventually, in the middle of the night, they were woken abruptly, their bags were looted, and they were pushed into a small boat. With no dry clothes and freezing rain pouring down, they crossed the overflowing river in a journey that lasted around six hours.
From there, the route continued across land and sea. Videos show illegal migrants being transported in mini-buses operated by smugglers, as well as scenes of people, including women and children, being forced to cross rivers in small, unstable boats. Yogesh stated that the donkers treated women and children no differently from men, subjecting everyone to the same threats, abuse, and neglect.
After walking nearly 60 kilometres, Yogesh reached Costa Rica, where he bought old clothes from a roadside stall because his original clothes were soaked and unsuitable for the cold. After a brief stay, he was transported to Nicaragua and then onward toward Mexico. The conditions worsened as they neared the US border. From Mexico to the border, 40 to 50 people were locked inside a small container-like vehicle known as a canter. They were forced to squat for 17 hours in extreme heat and suffocating conditions, with barely any air to breathe. Several videos show migrants gasping, drenched in sweat, and barely able to move.
On January 10, 2025, Yogesh and others were taken to the border wall separating Mexico and the United States. Using a ladder, they were made to climb and cross the wall. The moment they landed on the other side, US forces detained them. In custody, they were reportedly given boiled kidney beans as food. For Yogesh, this marked the end of a journey that had consumed nearly six months of his life and drained his family financially and emotionally.
After spending eight months in detention, Yogesh was deported to India. Back home, he approached the police and filed a complaint against the agents who had lured him with false promises. A case has since been registered, and an investigation is underway. His videos and testimony have since sparked outrage and renewed calls for action against human trafficking networks that operate with impunity.
Yogesh’s story stands as a stark warning about the human cost of illegal migration. Behind the dreams sold by agents lie jungles, guns, extortion, hunger, and imprisonment. His experience reveals not only the brutality of the donkey route but also the desperation that drives young people to risk everything, often ending up with nothing but trauma and debt.
