The Illegals

A group of paperless Indian immigrants desperately in search of a new life in the West battle against overwhelming hurdles to enter Britain without a visa. As an international journalist Shamlal Puri has reported on the horrendous experiences of illegal immigrants called ‘faujis’ from Punjab for many years. He has met them in many countries on their long and torturous route before they sneak into Britain. This is the hair-rising tale of twelve Indians cheated by a dodgy agent who extracts big money from them on false promises. They are sent off on ‘the donkey route’ through Asia and Europe to Britain. They travel thousands of miles holed up in container trucks across inhospitable terrain and war zones. Most fall ill and some are murdered on the way. During his travels in war-torn Afghanistan Puri came across many stranded Indians living crammed small rooms in Kabul Kazakhstan Russia Poland Germany Belgium France and Italy. In Britain Puri interviewed many ‘Faujis’ hailing from respectable families living like tramps under a motorway bridge in West London the banks of a nearby river and in a cemetery to record their horrendous experiences. Homeless jobless penniless and hopeless these faujis pine for their homes. The Illegals reveals the stark reality of paperless immigrants living in shoddy conditions and exploited by their compatriots. It is a wake-up call for all who want to settle in Britain by entering the country without legal papers only to find their dreams of a cushy life shattered.