Dunki: All About The 'Donkey Route' & What Drives Some Indians Choose The Risky Route To America?

Shah Rukh Khan Dunki Theme: Shah Rukh Khan starrer Dunki released today(December 21), the movie is based on the infamous 'Donkey Route' and is getting mixed reviews online. Videos from the jungles of Panama are widely shared on Punjabi social media, capturing the dangerous journey undertaken by migrants from India and Pakistan.

Despite ardent appeals urging against taking this risky path and horrifying videos depicting the torture and deaths of migrants, the allure of the "Donkey Route" persists. Originally prevalent in Punjab and Haryana, this route is now gaining traction in Gujarat.

Shah Rukh Khan-starrer movie, Dunki sheds light on the experiences of such migrants. Shah Rukh Khan explained at a recent event in Dubai that Dunki refers to an illegal journey taken by individuals to escape their countries across global borders, commonly known as the Donkey travels.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT "DUNKEY ROUTE"

Initiating the journey involves reaching Latin American countries like Ecuador, Bolivia, or Guyana, which offer visa on arrival for Indian citizens. The route further depends on the agent's connections to human trafficking networks. After landing in a Latin American country, migrants often proceed to Colombia before facing the treacherous Darién Gap, a dangerous forest between Colombia and Panama known for its lack of clean water, wild animals, and criminal gangs.

Guatemala serves as a coordination center, where migrants transition to new traffickers to continue their journey through Mexico towards the US border.

Avoiding the forest is possible by taking a route from San Andrés, starting in Colombia, but it remains fraught with risks. Migrants traverse boats to Nicaragua, then move forward to Mexico. Crossing the US-Mexico border, which spans 3,140 kilometers, involves overcoming fences and sometimes navigating the dangerous Rio Grande river. While US authorities may not present a significant challenge during the border crossing, migrants are detained and held in camps afterward, awaiting a determination on their asylum status.

Despite the dangers and expenses, ranging from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 40 lakh on average, with some cases reaching Rs 70 lakh, migrants are enticed by the prospect of a better life in the United States. Agents in India maintain connections with traffickers throughout the journey, with families often making payments in installments.

While a new, seemingly safer route through Europe to Mexico has emerged, the resilience of the traditional Donkey Route remains, subject to the ebb and flow of scrutiny and enforcement.