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The United States announced on Monday that it is imposing visa bans on owners, executives, and senior officials of certain Indian travel agencies. These agencies are accused of “knowingly facilitating illegal immigration” into the US.
Targeting Travel Agents Behind Illegal Migration
According to a statement from the US State Department, this move aims to hold accountable those involved in helping individuals cross borders unlawfully.
“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,” the statement said.
The Department highlighted the ongoing efforts by Mission India’s Consular Affairs and Diplomatic Security Service teams at the US Embassy and Consulates. These teams work daily to identify and disrupt networks involved in human smuggling and trafficking.
The US also stressed it will continue to take action to “impose visa restrictions against owners, executives, and senior officials of travel agencies to cut off alien smuggling networks.”
US Immigration Policy: Education and Accountability
The State Department underscored that US immigration policy not only focuses on penalizing violators but also on educating foreign nationals about the risks of illegal migration.
“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 statement said.
This policy follows trends seen in previous administrations, where enforcement against undocumented immigrants was intensified. CNN reported that more than 20,000 undocumented immigrants were arrested during Donald Trump’s first month as president, citing the Department of Homeland Security.
Political Debate Over Border Security
The issue of border security continues to be a contentious political topic in the US. Last month, US Border Czar Tom Homan criticized former President Joe Biden for reversing the border policies established by the Trump administration.
Homan said, “But Joe Biden was the first President in the history of the nation who came into office and unsecured the border on purpose. That is a fact. We handed the Biden administration the most secure border in my lifetime after President Trump’s first administration. And he unsecured it on purpose.”
He added, “Now, President Trump and this administration’s success is unprecedented. We beat Trump’s first administration on border success.”
Homan also referred to studies indicating that Trump’s policies cut illegal immigration by 96%, which he said helped prevent many women from falling victim to sexual abuse and trafficking.
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