A massive wave of illegal immigration from India will take a toll on India's international image.
In the new Bollywood comedy film "Donkey", four friends from the same village try to immigrate to the UK through an illegal route called "Donkey Flight". Recently, a plane suspected of carrying Indian smugglers and being detained at a French airport for many days was called a realistic version of a "donkey flight" by the outside world.
According to Xinhua News Agency, the plane arrived in Mumbai, India, on the 26th with 276 passengers, except for the two people who were previously detained by the French side for being involved in the smuggling case, the remaining 25 people continued to stay in France and apply for asylum.
Passengers arriving at Mumbai airport refused to speak to reporters waiting there. Source: AFP
In India, "donkey flights" are not new, and even a black industry chain has been formed. According to Zhao Gancheng, a researcher at the Shanghai Institute of International Studies, the large-scale wave of illegal immigration from India will take a big toll on India's international image.
He was suspected of being a smuggler and was detained for many days.
The Airbus charter flight, operated by Romania's legendary airline, was originally scheduled to fly from the UAE to Managua, the capital of Nicaragua. However, when the plane was refueling at Wattrie Airport in Paris, France, last week, the French side detained it after receiving an anonymous report and launched an investigation.
The French side has shifted its investigation from human trafficking to illegal immigration. It is reported that the passengers on board are suspected of trying to immigrate to the United States or Canada via Nicaragua.
During the detention period, the group of passengers was temporarily staying in the airport hall. Local emergency services provided them with makeshift beds, food, hot drinks, portable toilets and shower facilities.
After questioning the passengers for about two days, the French side allowed the plane to leave on the 24th. Prosecutors did not comment on the final destination of the group of passengers. The two passengers who were previously detained have been released.
According to local authorities**, 25 Indians who remained in France have been transferred to a special area for asylum seekers at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, including five minors.
However, the 276 people who "went home" also seemed reluctant. Legend Airlines lawyers say some passengers don't want to go back to India because they've paid for a trip to Nicaragua. In addition, the airline denied any violation.
Donkey Flight surfaced.
The fermentation of this incident and the release of the Indian film of the same title "Donkey" (Dunki) at the same time made "Donkey Flight" attract much attention.
Poster of the Indian film "Donkey". Network diagram.
The term "donkey" comes from the Punjabi language of India, which originally meant jumping from one place to another, and usually refers to the unauthorized entry into Western countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, etc., through illegal immigration means.
Despite the risks associated with the process, such as being deceived by "black intermediaries", being forced to hide in dangerous spaces, and being arrested and deported, many people still choose to take risks, some do not hesitate to save money, or even sell their ancestral property in exchange for this "donkey journey".
The analysis points out that fantasies about a so-called better life abroad have fueled the wave of illegal immigration in India. In addition, the oppression of minorities in India and the backlog of visas are also partly to blame.
The plane was detained at a French airport for several days. Source: AFP
A U.S. immigration expert said that using charter flights to immigrate illegally is a relatively new approach. He speculated that there was a "mutual benefit" between the relevant airports in Nicaragua and the airlines.
Some Central American countries, including Nicaragua and Mexico, are considered transit points for migrants smuggled into the United States and other places.
According to the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, as many as 96,917 Indians attempted to enter the U.S. illegally in fiscal year 2023, an increase of 51 percent from the previous year61%。
In the year ending Sept. 30 this year, nearly 4 Indians were arrested for illegally entering the United States from Mexico, according to Mexican immigration department dataMore than 20,000 times, more than double the previous year.
Illegal immigration damages the image.
According to Zhao Gancheng, a researcher at the Shanghai Institute of International Studies, the increasing scale of illegal immigration in India, and even the formation of an industrial chain, is bound to make Western countries that are popular destinations for Indian immigrants have a negative impression of India, especially the United States, which is currently in a fierce partisan struggle over immigration policy.
He said India's relations with the West have recently been plagued by accusations of involvement in the assassination of Sikhs by Indian intelligence agencies. For the "killers" who infiltrated Western countries, foreign media do not seem to rule out illegal entry into the country.
In addition, the image of India's economy will inevitably be damaged. Zhao Gancheng said that although Indian Prime Minister Modi boasted of his economic achievements, and India, as the world's most populous country, claims to have the world's best economic growth, it is difficult for such a large-scale wave of illegal immigration to form a positive interpretation of India's economic development, which is undoubtedly embarrassing to Modi.
Produced by Deep Sea Studios.
Written by Jiaye Wang.
Edited by Abyssal Otter.