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The last, 11th flight was carried out last week, during which 44 Uzbeks returned to their homeland. The journey home turned out to be long—they spent more than a day traveling with several transfers, including stops in Armenia and Romania.
According to diplomats, many of those returning had spent a long time in migration centers in the USA as they attempted to cross the border illegally.
One of the returnees, a young man, shared his experience: he went to the USA influenced by stories from acquaintances and out of curiosity, spending $23,000 on the move. He noted that some of his compatriots spent even $80,000 on similar journeys.
He recounted that the journey from Uzbekistan to Mexico took almost a month, with the most difficult part being the crossing through dense forests and trails. Upon arriving in America, he found himself in a detention center for three months.
“Some people stay in such centers for years. It’s a cruel ordeal that breaks people both morally and physically. I advise those who hear stories about an easy life abroad not to believe them. The reality is much more complicated. Even if you manage to get to the USA through Mexico, finding a job and getting your documents sorted will be extremely difficult,” he said.
According to the news agency, the Uzbeks who returned to Tashkent expressed gratitude to the government for its support in their return.
Additionally, “Dunyo” reported that employees of the Uzbekistan Embassy in the USA visited migration centers in Caroline and Farmville, Virginia. The diplomats met with their compatriots, examined the conditions of their detention, including health and nutrition.
The migrants spoke about their detentions for illegal entry into the USA and the legal proceedings against them regarding deportation. They appealed to the diplomats for assistance in their swift return to their homeland.
Embassy representatives, considering changes in US immigration policy, strongly recommended that Uzbek citizens abroad obtain legal residency and comply with local laws.
