U.S. Announces Restrictions on Some India Travel Agencies
"The Department of State is taking steps today 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 United States," the U.S. Department of State announced on May 19.
The move comes shortly after the U.S. Embassy in India announced that people who overstay their visas in the U.S. could face a "permanent" ban on travel to the U.S.
"Mission India's Consular Affairs and Diplomatic Security Service work every day across our Embassy and Consulates to actively identify and target those engaged in facilitating illegal immigration and human smuggling and trafficking operations," the May 19 release says.
"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. Our immigration policy aims not only to inform foreign nationals about the dangers of illegal immigration to the United States but also to hold accountable individuals who violate our laws, including facilitators of illegal immigration," it adds.
"Enforcing U.S. immigration laws and policies is critical to upholding the rule of law and protecting Americans. This visa restriction policy is global and even applies to individuals who otherwise qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. These actions are taken pursuant to section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act," the statement reads.
NPR reported that the desire to migrate to the U.S. is so strong among some Indians that they pray at "visa temples" for the chance to do so.
According to Pew Research, "An estimated 5.2 million people in the United States identified as Indian in 2023."
Related: U.S. Embassy Warns of 'Permanent Ban' on Travel
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