USA: The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA), through its Executive Director Satnam Singh Chahal, has expressed deep concern over the increasing arrests, detentions, and deportations of Punjabi migrants in the United States, calling the situation a serious humanitarian and social crisis directly linked to Punjab’s long-standing migration patterns.
Chahal stated that Punjabis form a significant portion of Indian nationals currently facing action by U.S. immigration authorities. Most Punjabi migrants arrested or deported in recent years are not hardened criminals but individuals caught in immigration violations such as visa overstays, student status issues, or lack of timely legal transition. Treating these civil violations as criminal matters has resulted in families being torn apart and lives being destroyed.
NAPA highlighted that Punjab’s deep connection with overseas migration makes the impact far more severe. Families in Punjab often sell land, mortgage homes, or take heavy loans to send their children abroad. When a Punjabi youth is detained or deported, the financial collapse back home is immediate and devastating. Entire families are pushed into debt, social stigma, and long-term emotional trauma.
He emphasized that only a small fraction of arrested Punjabis have criminal records, mostly involving minor and non-violent offenses. However, under current U.S. immigration enforcement practices, even minor past convictions are being used to justify detention and deportation. The vast majority of Punjabi deportees, he said, have no criminal background at all and are victims of restrictive immigration laws and limited legal pathways.
The press release also drew attention to Punjabi students in the U.S., who are increasingly vulnerable due to strict monitoring of attendance and work rules. Even minor technical mistakes are leading to visa cancellations, arrests, and removals. For Punjab, this means shattered dreams, wasted resources, and rising despair among youth.
NAPA further expressed concern for Punjabi women, children, and elderly parents who suffer silently. Families are separated overnight, children are left without parents, and aging parents in Punjab wait endlessly for support that never arrives. The social fabric of entire villages is being affected by repeated cases of deportation and forced return.
Satnam Singh Chahal urged both the Indian and U.S. authorities to recognize the humanitarian dimension of this issue. He called for better legal awareness campaigns in Punjab, strict action against fraudulent travel agents, and diplomatic engagement to ensure fair treatment of Punjabi migrants. He also appealed to the Punjab government to create rehabilitation and employment programs for deported youth so they can rebuild their lives with dignity.
“The Punjabi community has contributed immensely to the economy, culture, and workforce of the United States. It is tragic that today the same community is living under fear and uncertainty,” C said Chahal . “Migration should not end in humiliation and hardship. Urgent corrective steps are needed—on both sides of the ocean.”
Issued by:
North American Punjabi Association (NAPA)
Satnam Singh, Executive Director