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First Post
19-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
US imposes visa curbs on Indian travel agencies for 'knowingly facilitating illegal immigration'
The US on Monday said that it would impose visa restrictions on owners, executives, and senior officials of travel agencies in India for knowingly facilitating 'illegal immigration' to the US read more The US on Monday said that it would impose visa restrictions on owners, executives, and senior officials of travel agencies in India for knowingly facilitating 'illegal immigration' to the United States. '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 State Department said in a statement. 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', it said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The statement added that the US 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,' the State Department said. The State Department emphasised that enforcing US immigration laws and policies is essential to upholding the rule of law and ensuring the safety of American citizens. It added that the visa restriction policy is global in scope and applies even to individuals who would otherwise be eligible for the Visa Waiver Programme. When asked about the travel agencies and people against whom visa restrictions have been effected, a US embassy official in New Delhi said the details cannot be provided. 'We cannot provide a list of individuals or travel agencies the United States is taking steps to impose visa restrictions on due to visa record confidentiality,' PTI quoted the official as saying. With inputs from agencies
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
US announces visa restrictions on Indian travel agencies facilitating "illegal immigration"
Live Events The United States on Monday said it is 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 United States."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 State Department said in a statement added that the US 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," the State Department said.(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)It further said that enforcing US immigration laws and policies is critical to upholding the rule of law and protecting said this visa restriction policy is global and even applies to individuals who otherwise qualify for the Visa Waiver Programme
Indian Express
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
US imposes visa restrictions on Indian travel agencies linked to illegal immigration
The US Department of State Monday announced visa restrictions on owners and senior officials of Indian travel agencies accused of facilitating illegal immigration to the United States. The move targets individuals involved in human smuggling and trafficking operations, as part of broader efforts to disrupt illicit migration networks. Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce, in a statement, said the restrictions apply to executives and senior staff who knowingly enabled unlawful entry into the US. The measures were implemented under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and will also affect those who would typically qualify for the Visa Waiver Programme. 'Mission India's Consular Affairs and Diplomatic Security Service are actively identifying and targeting those engaged in illegal immigration facilitation,' Bruce said. 'We will continue to hold accountable individuals who violate US laws, including those who profit from smuggling operations.' According to the Pew Research Center, there were an estimated 725,000 undocumented Indian immigrants in the US as of 2024. As per the Ministry of External Affairs, 682 Indian nationals have been deported from the United States since January 2025, with the majority attempting to enter the country illegally. US President Donald Trump, who is now in his second term, has implemented several strict immigration policies since taking office in January. In February, three US military aircraft deported hundreds of individuals — including Indian nationals — who had crossed the border illegally. In addition to physical deportations, the Trump administration has also made sweeping changes to immigration rules. These include stricter H-1B visa norms, a rise in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, and the move to end birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants.
NDTV
19-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
US Announces Visa Curbs On Indian Travel Firms Behind "Illegal Migration"
New York/Washington: The US said it is imposing visa restrictions on owners, executives, and senior officials of travel agencies in India for knowingly facilitating "illegal immigration" to the United States. "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 State Department said in a statement on Monday. 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", it said. The statement added that the US 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," the State Department said, adding that enforcing US immigration laws and policies is critical to upholding the rule of law and protecting Americans. It said this visa restriction policy is global and even applies to individuals who otherwise qualify for the Visa Waiver Programme.
