US to impose visa restrictions on Indian travel agencies that facilitate illegal immigration

The US military plane that brought back Indian immigrants on February 5, 2025. The US said they were found to be in the country illegally. File | Photo credit: Reuters

The United States announced on Monday (May 19, 2025) that it is taking steps to impose visa restrictions on “owners, executives and senior officials of travel agencies” based in India for “knowingly” facilitating illegal immigration to the US.

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“The State Department is taking steps today to impose visa restrictions on owners, executives and senior officials of travel agencies located and operating in India for knowingly facilitating illegal immigration to the United States,” State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in the announcement.

US authorities have not shared a list of individuals who will face visa restrictions at this time. In response to a media query, the US Embassy said the names could not be shared “due to the confidentiality of visa records”.

The announcement comes months after the US began deporting Indian nationals found to be staying there illegally. In February, the US repatriated around 330 Indian citizens, signifying the Donald Trump administration’s stance to stop illegal immigration to the US. The matter is believed to have been discussed during US Vice President JD Vance’s visit to India last month.

Measures against human trafficking

A State Department spokesman also said officials at the US embassy and consulates in India are working daily to “actively identify and target those involved in facilitating illegal immigration and people smuggling and human trafficking”.

“We will continue to take steps to impose visa restrictions against owners, executives and senior officials of travel agencies to cut off the networks of alien smugglers. Our immigration policy aims not only to inform foreign nationals about the dangers of illegal immigration to the U.S., but also to hold accountable individuals who violate our laws, including those who facilitate illegal immigration,” said a spokesman who otherwise pays visa restrictions adding that “this visa policy is even invalid.” waiver program.”

Published – 19 May 2025 23:08 IST