Overview

• The US State Department announced visa restrictions on owners, executives, and senior officials of Indian travel agencies for allegedly enabling illegal immigration to the United States.
• The sanctions, enacted under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, apply globally, including to individuals eligible for the Visa Waiver Program.
• Mission India’s Consular Affairs and Diplomatic Security Service are actively identifying and targeting individuals involved in human smuggling and trafficking operations.
• This action follows earlier deportations of over 300 Indian nationals on military flights and is part of broader efforts to disrupt smuggling networks and enforce US immigration laws.
• The US has withheld details on the identities and number of individuals sanctioned, citing visa record confidentiality policies.