Psychological Impact of the Dunki Route Immigration: Mental Toll of Illegal Immigration for a Better Life
By ~ Ms. Bhavya Jain (M.A. I/O Psychology, University of Mumbai, Org. That Happiness Project)
Submitted on Feb 24, 2025, Sent back for revision on Feb 24, 2025. Re-submitted on Feb 27, 2025. Revised and edited on March 08, 2025 Published on March 10, 2025 This article was reviewed by two reviewers.
Every nation is entitled to protect its culture and economy in the globalized world, particularly during economic downturns. To safeguard its interests, they have their own unique border policies and immigration laws. Some countries allow citizens of the majority of countries to visit them without needing a visa; on the other hand, the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, and some wealthy countries of the European Union scrutinize your source of income, bank balance, social media profiles, and strong ties to your homeland (such as marital status and children in your homeland) while you travel alone to their countries, properties, businesses, and other links, and then they reject the majority of applications, with or without a real threat. Yet some people refuse to accept that their visa has been denied and choose an illegal way of migration to enter the host country, either solo or with their family.
- Illegal immigration is not a recent phenomenon; it is a historical recurrence in which the law expressly prohibits it.
- However, the pressing humanitarian needs and economic hardships in certain countries often compel their citizens to resort to illegal means to enter prosperous countries.
Illegal immigrants take various risks and use dangerous routes, which means unauthorized border crossing by walking or through multiple vehicles (cars, trains, and boats). Often referred to as “Dunki,” a phrase coined by Punjabi, which means “donkey,” the lengthy walks and hikes are undertaken by immigrants seeking to enter either the USA or the UK illegally. It’s difficult to not get emotional when you discuss the psychological suffering and sad experience of these illegal immigrants running for a better life. This sentence is particularly relevant when talking about “donkey” migration—that is, the movement of Indian immigrants driven by unemployment and aspirations for better living conditions who start perilous journeys supported by people smugglers.
People are now asking a crucial question: why do these individuals abandon their home countries and venture into unfamiliar territory? The whole essence behind illegal immigration is to seek a better quality of life; one might wonder if it truly is the “American Dream.” Pushed majorly by economic hardships, many resort to immigrating illegally to build a better life. Ironically, they are met with a life marked by intense psychological trauma, whether related to the journey or the aftermath, i.e., living as undocumented immigrants. Living without any formal documentation is bound to instill a sense of uncertainty, and the immigrants have to live under the constant threat of being deported and exploited. While some may learn to adjust to the life of a refugee, others may lose their sense of identity along the way. Especially when moving from a tightly-knit, collectivistic society like India to one that is more individualistic, one might yearn to belong.
Poor mental health and deaths among Donki Route-Choosing Immigrants
However, the mental toll of wanting to lead a better life has become a reason for uproarious concern. From the moment they leave their families and habitat, feelings of uncertainty and distress creep in. On foreign land, more often than not, and as studies have demonstrated, those feelings aggregate and progressively transform into symptoms of mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. These marginalized communities henceforth bear the burden of living under unsuitable conditions.
Anxiety and chronic stress are the most common mental health issues that illegal immigrants face. They constantly worry about the possibility of arrest, deportation from the USA, or separation from their family. Their body becomes a victim of burnout due to constant challenging thoughts and situations, among other things, social isolation, headaches, insomnia, tiredness, and so forth. Many people feel despondent post-migration, mostly from poverty, unemployment, and inadequate living circumstances, which can sometimes lead to depression.
The experience of discrimination and prejudice can also contribute to suicidal thoughts, which can further lead to self-harm tendencies in the migrants. Moreover, there is a particular concern regarding the mental well-being of unaccompanied children (Hornfeck et al., 2023). Both in their home countries and during migration, these children often endure several traumatic events, increasing their likelihood of developing PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
As reported by NDTV (Ndtv, 2025) In the below attachment, 321 migrants died or disappeared from 2015 to 2022, and 229 more deaths or disappearances happened in between 2021 and 2023:
Undocumented immigrants often face a higher risk of mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), etc. Just to state an example— A substantial correlation between the frequency of mental disorders and post-migration living challenges was discovered by a systematic review that focused on undocumented Mexican immigrants (Garcini et al. 2017). The study suggests the need for laws that make it easier for people to get mental health care suited to their particular needs. Reports from February of this year suggest that a flight containing 200 illegal immigrants was sent back to Amritsar by Trump. (Indian Express. 2025). The US deports 205 illegal Indian immigrants; the flight is to land in Amritsar today. The Indian Express (Roy, 2025).
- The 2019 COVID-19 pandemic aggressively effected the mental health of the majority of undocumented immigrants. Different pressures, including economic hardships, family conflicts, and anti-immigrant movements, cause substantial psychological suffering in this society (Serafini et al., 2021).
Despite having a long history, illegal immigration has had its ups and downs. Economic growth, labor force expansion, and demographic shifts are some of its potential benefits. However, it also poses concerns about wage depression, strain on public services, social tension, and fairness. To ensure that individuals do not feel obliged to leave in search of better opportunities elsewhere, sustainable solutions should be crafted that focus on developing conditions in these regions.
According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), psychological interventions are vital for safeguarding the welfare of every person, including illegal immigrants, by teaching them about their basic rights to access required services for the protection of themselves and their families. It stated that the authority should allow patients, among immigrants, to narrate their experiences; this will assist them in processing and managing feelings of anxiety, PTSD, and despair.
STEPS TO BE TAKEN
- Trauma-sensitive screening for symptoms; consistent trauma screening should explain how violence affects growth and coping and create secure surroundings for these activities.
- Boost follow-up treatments to combat psychological, sociological, emotional, and culturally particular pressures. In essence, it would be reasonable to argue that one should not fight for quality of life. In essence, it would be reasonable to argue that quality of life should not be fought for; rather, it should be guaranteed for everyone since it is a necessary element in creating a progressive and advanced country.
- Helping migrants recover their footing once more depends on awareness of these problems and opening up psychiatric treatment since they are focused on stability, identity, and hope.
CONCLUSION
Dunki Syndrome becomes a catch-all phrase for the attitude of illegal immigrants—from their remarkable resilience to the severe psychological suffering caused by them upon choosing the Dunki path. The present situation of illegal immigrants demands a change in state policies on both sides; one country developed the terrible conditions that drove people to flee, and the other was so degrading that it neglected to provide shelter. Dealing with Dunki Syndrome is about understanding the fundamental psychological needs, not just about rules. Thus, governments and cultures must strive for inclusion to ensure that immigrants, whether legal or not, receive decency and respect. Additionally, some mental health checkups and counseling programs, unbiased community support, re-educational programs, and proper rehabilitation of illegal immigrants can enable people and authorities of both nations to manage the severity of the issue. Ultimately, government officers and politicians must accept that a better life should not come at the expense of mental well-being.
References
- Garcini, L. M., Peña, J. M., Galvan, T., Fagundes, C. P., Malcarne, V., & Klonoff, E. A. (2017). Mental disorders among undocumented Mexican immigrants in high-risk neighborhoods: prevalence, comorbidity, and vulnerabilities. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 85(10), 927–936. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000237
- Hornfeck, F., Eglinsky, J., Garbade, M., Rosner, R., Kindler, H., Pfeiffer, E., & Sachser, C. (2023). Mental health problems in unaccompanied young refugees and the impact of post-flight factors on PTSS, depression and anxiety—a secondary analysis of the Better Care study. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1149634. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1149634
- NDTV (2025). Darien Gap: Deadly 97-Km Jungle Crossing That Migrants Brave To Reach US. (n.d.). Www.Ndtv.Com; NDTV. Retrieved March 10, 2025, from https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/indian-migrants-deported-darien-gap-deadly-97-km-jungle-crossing-that-migrants-brave-to-reach-us-7648580
- Roy, S. (2025, February 4). First under Trump 2.0: US deports 205 ‘illegal’ Indian migrants, flown back in military planes. The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/united-states-deports-indian-immigrants-trump-crackdown-embassy-message-9816609/
- Serafini, R. A., Powell, S. K., Frere, J. J., Saali, A., Krystal, H. L., Kumar, V., Yashaswini, C., Hernandez, J., Moody, K., Aronson, A., Meah, Y., & Katz, C. L. (2020). Psychological distress in the face of a pandemic: An observational study characterizing the impact of COVID-19 on immigrant outpatient mental health. Psychiatry Research, 295, 113595. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113595