US slaps visa ban on agencies facilitating illegal immigration

NEW DELHI: The US on Monday imposed a visa ban on errant Indian travel agencies and their owners who facilitate illegal immigration to the country. US State Department's statement on Monday said it's taking steps 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 embassies 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," said the department, adding that US immigration policy aims to inform foreign nationals about dangers of illegal immigration and to hold accountable individuals who violate US laws. Following President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration, between Jan and early April this year, 682 Indian nationals had been deported to India. The vast majority of these deportees had attempted to enter the country illegally, but were apprehended at the US border itself.

Centre told Parliament last month that it has been working with US authorities to promote mutually advantageous & secure mobility frameworks that allow for streamlining avenues for legal mobility of students and professionals. Govt has also been working to address illegal immigration and human trafficking by taking action illegal immigration networks. Ministry of external affairs, till Feb this year, had notified 3,281 illegal agents for facilitating illegal immigration and human trafficking.

US embassy in New Delhi too has been alerting Indian nationals visiting the US not to overstay their authorised period of stay in the country, warning they will face deportation and a permanent ban from entering the country for doing so.