By Harpreet Bajwa

More than a hundred Punjabi young men are languishing in US jails for entering the country illegally without valid entry visas, claims North American Punjabi Association (NAPA).

In a letter to the Punjab Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Commission here on Monday, the NAPA sought action against travel and immigration agents who lured youths with big dreams.

“I want to bring to your notice the miserable plight of more than 100 Punjabi young men who (after paying several lakh rupees) are languishing in US jails on charges of illegal entry without a valid visa.

“More than 42 undocumented Punjabi youths were arrested on different occasions and detained in the El Paso Processing Centre in Texas, the US. Some of them have been on hunger strike since five days. They are demanding transferring of their cases from 5th circuit to 9th circuit court for early decision since they could be detained from three months to a year in this jail.’’ Satnam Singh Chahal, Executive Director of NAPA, said.

Chahal said in a recent incident a Punjabi youth had committed suicide. His body was brought to his native village in Punjab for cremation, he added. In another instance, Jarnail Singh, father of Amritpal Singh, claimed he paid `22 lakh in instalments to an immigration agent to help his son migrate to the US. However, the son landed in a Texas prison following his illegal entry via Mexico.

The letter stated, “It is estimated that 10,000 to 20,000 Punjabis contribute to this flourishing business each year by paying `20-30 lakh on the promise of greener pastures.”

newindianexpress.com, April 15, 2014