A young Indian man named Davinder Singh, who recently returned to India after being deported from the United States, shared a disturbing story about how the turbans of Sikh immigrants were mistreated in detention centers. Davinder, who is 21 and comes from Punjab, was one of 116 immigrants flown back to India on February 15 after crossing the US-Mexico border.
After being caught trying to enter the US illegally, Davinder was held in a detention center for 18 days, where he faced harsh conditions. He witnessed US officials throwing Sikh turbans—important symbols of faith—into trash cans. “It was very painful to watch. These are sacred items,” he said.
Living conditions were tough. Davinder and around 60 other immigrants from different countries were kept in a large hall under constant watch. Many would recite prayers from their holy books, like “Chaupai Sahib” and “Japji Sahib,” to cope with the stress of the situation.
Davinder explained that food was scarce and not enough to keep them warm. They only received a small packet of chips and juice five times a day, plus some half-cooked bread and rice. He also mentioned that he felt so cold because the air conditioning was set too low, and despite asking for more blankets, their pleas were ignored. He could take only two showers during his entire stay.
Hailing from the village of Nangal Jalalpur in Punjab, Davinder moved to the US in search of a better life but regretted the attempt after spending about ₹40 lakh on the journey. Now back in India, he plans to help out at his father’s electronic repair shop in Tanda, saying his time in the detention center was the worst experience of his life.
