The United States has announced visa restrictions on Indian travel agency officials who allegedly facilitate illegal immigration to the U.S. Announcing the restrictions on May 19, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, however, did not name the affected 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,” she stated.
“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,” Bruce stated.
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“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,” she stated. “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.”
“Enforcing U.S. immigration laws and policies is critical to upholding the rule of law and protecting Americans,” Bruce stated. “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 United States is estimated to have more than 11 million illegal immigrants. As per a 2022 estimate of the Department of Homeland Security, the maximum number of 4.8 million illegal immigrants are from Mexico, followed by Guatemala (750,000), El Salvador (710,00) and Honduras (560.000).
India, with 220,000 illegal immigrants, is ranked ninth in the list. The Philippines, with 350,000 accounts for the largest number of illegal immigrants originating from outside the American continent. From Asia, Philippines is followed by India and China (210,000).