'Those who help others enter...': US Embassy issues strict warning amid outrage over Indian student's detention at airport
'Those who help others enter...': US Embassy issues strict warning amid outrage over Indian student's detention at airport
The United States has made it clear that it won't allow or support anyone who helps people enter the country illegally or in large numbers. In a message shared by the US Embassy on social media, it said that new visa rules have been put in place. These rules are aimed at foreign government officials and others involved in helping illegal immigration.
This statement came after a major immigration operation recently took place in Los Angeles, California. 'We will not allow or support those who help others enter the US illegally,' the statement said.
'Also, governments that do not facilitate the repatriation of their nationals from the United States face serious consequences, including broad restrictions on entry to the United States for their nationals,' it said.
The US government has also labeled some criminal groups as terrorist organizations because they are involved in human smuggling and illegal immigration. The US has established 'new visa restrictions targeting foreign government officials and others who do so, and the Trump Administration has designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations several criminal cartels that facilitate illegal immigration and alien smuggling,' it added.
The embassy also warned that countries that do not help take back their citizens who are staying illegally in the US could face strict travel restrictions. This means their people might find it harder to get US visas.
We will not tolerate those who facilitate illegal and mass immigration to the United States.
The United States has established new visa restrictions targeting foreign government officials and others who do so, and the Trump Administration has designated as Foreign Terrorist… pic.twitter.com/N6D3Tk1OJq
— U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) June 16, 2025
Earlier on June 10, the embassy had also said that while the US welcomes genuine visitors, it will take strict action against those who misuse visas, break immigration rules, or enter the country illegally.
Kunal Jain, an alumnus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), shared the viral video of an Indian student being handcuffed at Newark Airport, claiming the student was 'treated like a criminal.' He described the incident as deeply troubling and took to social media to tag the Indian Embassy and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, urging them to take swift action.
Since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, the US has deported around 1,080 Indian nationals, according to data from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
One of the deported individuals was Ranjani Srinivasan, a 37-year-old Indian PhD student at Columbia University. She chose to leave for Canada in March after her student visa was cancelled over allegations of being a 'terror sympathiser.'
Despite these developments, the US remains a top destination for international education. In the academic year 2023–24, more than 1.1 million international students studied in the US out of which about 3.32 lakh were from India, according to the latest Open Doors report.
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