‘Imposing visa restrictions on Indian travel agents who aid illegal immigration:’ US

NEW DELHI: Cracking down on travel agencies in India facilitating illegal immigration to its shores, America on Monday said it is imposing visa restrictions on “owners, executives, and senior officials” of such agencies. In a statement, the US Embassy said: “The department of state is taking steps (Monday) to impose visa restrictions on owners, executives, and senior officials of travel agencies based and operating in India for knowingly facilitating illegal immigration to the US. Mission India’s consular affairs and diplomatic security service work every day across our embassy and consulates to actively identify and target those engaged in facilitating illegal immigration and human smuggling and trafficking operations.”
“We will continue to take steps to impose visa restrictions against owners, executives, and senior officials of travel agencies to cut off alien smuggling networks. Our immigration policy aims not only to inform foreign nationals about the dangers of illegal immigration to the United States but also to hold accountable individuals who violate our laws, including facilitators of illegal immigration,” the statement said, adding, "Enforcing US immigration laws and policies is critical to upholding the rule of law and protecting Americans. This visa restriction policy is global and even applies to individuals who otherwise qualify for the visa waiver programme.”
The US regularly keeps deporting illegal immigrants back to their home countries, including India. This Feb, foreign minister S Jaishankar had told Parliament 15,756 illegal Indian immigrants had been deported to India from the US since 2009. The data shared in Lok Sabha showed the highest deportation was witnessed in 2019 with 2,042 illegal Indian immigrants being sent back to the country. Starting from 2009, each year till 2025, more than 500 Indian migrants were sent back to India. During 2016 to 2020, the numbers of people sent to India crossed 1000.
Monday’s warning to impose visa restrictions on official of travel agencies facilitating illegal immigration comes two days after the US warned that overstaying in the country could lead to deportation and a permanent bar on visiting the country again. The Trump administration has been tightening visa norms and warning action against anyone found violating the rules.“If you remain in the United States beyond your authorised period of stay, you could be deported and could face a permanent ban on traveling to the United States in the future,” the US embassy in India said on X last Saturday (May 17).