The US Department of State has announced a crackdown on Indian travel firms, accusing them of “knowingly facilitating illegal immigration to the United States,” according to an official government press release.
Although no details have been provided about how illegal immigration is being enabled, the new visa restrictions will be imposed on “owners, executives, and senior officials” of targeted travel and tourism businesses based and operating in India.
The U.S. promotes accountability for those exploiting, preying on, and profiting from vulnerable illegal immigrants. The @StateDept is imposing visa restrictions on owners, executives, and senior employees of travel agencies operating in India that knowingly profit by exploiting… pic.twitter.com/RKga1Jri9U
— State_SCA (@State_SCA) May 20, 2025
Alleged smuggling networks
Tammy Bruce, Department Spokesperson said: “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.”
Mission India’s Consular Affairs and Diplomatic Security Service is described in the press statement as working “every day across our Embassy and Consulates to actively identify and target those engaged in facilitating illegal immigration and human smuggling and trafficking operations.”US immigration policy aims at informing foreign nationals about the dangers of illegal immigration, but also “to hold accountable individuals who violate our laws, including facilitators,” she continued.
With global scope, under section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the visa restriction applies even to people who otherwise qualify for visitors meant to be exempt from requiring a tourist visa for the US valid for up to 90 days under the US-India Visa Waiver Program, the announcement said. The State Department claims that the strategy is “critical to upholding the rule of law and protecting Americans.”
Today the @StateDept Spokesperson Tammy Bruce @StateDeptSpox announced visa restrictions on Indian travel agencies facilitating illegal immigration to the United States. @StateDeptDSS and @USAndIndia Consular Affairs @travelgov are actively working to identify and target those… pic.twitter.com/NnCB453CqU
— Diplomatic Security Service (@StateDeptDSS) May 19, 2025
Controversial foreign policy
Strengthened US border enforcement has resulted in a number of controversial detentions of travellers from around the world who believed they were in possession of the necessary immigration documents. The situation has led a number of European countries and China to issue travel advisories to their citizens, warning of the potential for problems when entering the country.
President Donald Trump set the tone for his administration on the first day of his second mandate by requesting officials make a list of countries of concern whose security protocols are deemed insufficient. The list included Afghanistan and Pakistan affecting large numbers of citizens eligible for humanitarian expatriation to the US, after they acted as translators and facilitators to assist the US during its post 9-11 “war on terror”. Like Vice President JD Vance’s attack on European nations over free speech and migration, the visa ban on dozens of countries caused widespread criticism about the US being seen to abandon its former allies.
