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Emigration and immigration

US Imposes Visa Restrictions on Indian Travel Agencies Facilitating Illegal Immigration

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The US Embassy in New Delhi has announced plans to impose visa restrictions on the owners, executives, and senior officials of travel agencies based in India that are facilitating illegal immigration to the US. This move comes as part of efforts to crack down on alien smuggling networks and uphold US immigration laws. The decision is a result of the US's global visa restriction policy, which applies to individuals who otherwise qualify for the visa waiver programme.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US will impose visa restrictions on owners, executives, and senior officials of travel agencies in India that knowingly facilitate illegal immigration to the US.
  • The decision is part of the US's efforts to crack down on alien smuggling networks and uphold US immigration laws.
  • The US embassy has been actively identifying and targeting individuals engaged in facilitating illegal immigration and human smuggling and trafficking operations.
  • The highest number of deportations of Indian migrants was witnessed in 2019, with 2,042 individuals being sent back to India.
  • Over the past 16 years, more than 500 Indian migrants have been deported to India each year, with numbers exceeding 1,000 during the 2016-2020 period.
  • The US has been tightening visa norms and warning against actions violating the rules, including overstaying in the country, which can lead to deportation and a permanent bar on visiting the US.

Statistics:

  • 15,756 Indian immigrants have been deported to India from the US since 2009 (Source: Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar's statement to Parliament in February).
  • 2,042 Indian immigrants were deported to India in 2019, making it the highest number of deportations in a single year (Source: Lok Sabha data).
  • Over 500 Indian migrants have been deported to India each year since 2009, with the exception of 2021 (Source: Lok Sabha data).
  • Between 2016 and 2020, over 1,000 Indian migrants were deported to India each year (Source: Lok Sabha data).

Sources:

  • US Embassy in India
  • Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar's statement to Parliament in February
  • Lok Sabha data
  • Times of India (For Reprint Rights: timescontent.com)

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