Illegal immigrants caught in India-Turkiye standoff

Ahmedabad: Amid growing diplomatic tensions between India and Turkiye — sparked by the latter's support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor — many Indians including from Gujarat attempting to migrate illegally to the US courting risks along the way, have found themselves in deeper waters.Nearly 500 Gujaratis, source say possibly more, remain stranded in Istanbul, which has long served as a key stopover for illegal immigrants on their forward journey to the US. The situation has been complicated by widespread calls to boycott Turkiye and Azerbaijan, both of which backed Islamabad during the recent escalation. A source privy to the development said sophisticated trafficking networks, operating through intermediaries in Gujarat, Punjab, and Delhi, have established complex routes through Istanbul and Mexico. These operations typically involve multiple stages, including identity alterations through fraudulent documentation in transit locations such as Istanbul or Dubai, before attempting entry into the US through Mexican border towns. "The immigrants take a break either in Istanbul or Dubai, where they assume new identities by acquiring new passports and visas. They then move to Mexico, mainly staying in Cancun city, from where they attempt to enter the US," the source said"Istanbul had become the new stopover after Dubai became risky due to enhanced security measures. "The current diplomatic crisis has severely disrupted these networks, leaving the illegal migrants currently in Istanbul in precarious situations with limited options for movement or return," said an individual aware of the human smuggling operations. "Flights were disrupted, agents went underground, and local support systems were no longer functional," the person added. The number of illegal immigrants to the US has significantly reduced since Donald Trump came into power, implementing stringent anti-human smuggling policies. At this time, many people were already in Istanbul, sent by agents from Uvarsad in Gandhinagar and Vijapur in Mehsana. They stayed in rented accommodations in the Turkish city. After relations between both countries worsened, flights and transportation services were disrupted.An agent working with human smugglers said, "Earlier stays in Dubai were cancelled due to strict actions there after a chartered flight was grounded. Human smugglers then sent their clients either to Baku in Azerbaijan or Istanbul. The immigrants are now stranded due to tensions with Turkiye and Baku."Apart from Gujaratis, there are people from Punjab and Andhra Pradesh who might be in hideouts in Turkiye. Such human trafficking, often referred to as the "donkey route," has been in operation for years. These agents often promise safe passage and high-paying jobs in the US in exchange for large payments ranging from Rs 60 lakh to Rs 1 crore per person.