State ranks fourth in illegal migration plaints: MEA data

Hyderabad: The Telugu states have increasingly emerged as hotspots for illegal migration, even though states like Punjab and Kerala have traditionally recorded the highest rates of overseas migration.According to data tabled by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in the Rajya Sabha, Andhra Pradesh recorded the highest number of illegal migration complaints in the country, while Telangana ranked fourth. Notably, AP has consistently remained at the top of the list for the past five years.In 2025 alone, AP registered 448 complaints related to illegal migration, the highest in the country, followed by Kerala and Delhi. Telangana recorded 111 complaints, placing it fourth. While AP police submitted 19 action-taken reports, Telangana registered 47 such reports in connection with illegal migration cases. The scale of the issue in AP is stark. Of the 6,700 complaints recorded nationwide since 2021, Andhra Pradesh alone accounted for 3,294 cases — nearly 50% of the national total.Illegal migration involves individuals travelling abroad through unauthorised agents, forged documents, or on tourist/visit visas with the intention of overstaying for employment. Many such cases come to light only when migrants are detained, deported, or flagged by foreign immigration authorities.‘V2E' loopholeMigrants' associations say illegal agents collect lakhs of rupees from unemployed youth by promising lucrative jobs in Gulf countries. While the UAE remains a major destination for illegal migration from the Telugu states, agents increasingly lure candidates with online advertisements offering attractive salaries in countries such as Cambodia and Myanmar."Even registered agents exploit systemic loopholes. A commonly used method is the ‘V2E (Visit to Employment)' route, where candidates are sent on 30-day visit visas, which are later extended informally for job placement. These operations are often carried out through sub-agents at the grassroots level, despite sub-agent networks being prohibited under the Emigration Act, 1983," said Manda Bheem Reddy, vice-chairman of the Telangana NRI Advisory Committee.A major concern is that those travelling on visit visas in search of employment are not covered under the Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY), which offers up to 10 lakh in coverage for accidental death or permanent disability, Bheem Reddy added."Until December 2025, a total of 3,505 unregistered agents across the country were notified on the eMigrate portal. To assist distressed migrants, the govt has established Kendriya Pravasi Sahayata Kendras (KPSKs) in Kochi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Lucknow, Patna, and Chandigarh to provide guidance, counselling, and support," Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State in the MEA, said in reply on ‘action against illegal recruiting agents'.