Punjab Police conducted raids at 1,274 immigration firms across the state as part of a crackdown on illegal travel agents, officials said on Tuesday. The operation carried out on Monday, aimed to protect young people from fraudsters who falsely promise opportunities abroad. The large-scale searches took place in all 28 police districts. 

The raids follow recent deportations of Indian immigrants from the United States. Many of those sent back, especially from Punjab and Haryana, claim they were tricked by travel agents who charged them large amounts of money but did not provide legal entry into the U.S. Some deportees said they were taken through the “donkey route,” a risky and illegal way to reach America. A total of 131 people from Punjab have been sent back from the US. Special DGP (Law and Order) Punjab, Arpit Shukla, led the statewide operation, during which the police registered 24 cases and arrested seven agents. “All police commissioners and senior superintendents of police were instructed to form special teams under the supervision of gazetted officers to conduct searches at immigration and travel firms,” Shukla said in a statement to the press.

He stated that officials had been instructed to take strict action against anyone violating the Punjab Travel Professionals' Regulation Act, 2012, or deceiving people with false promises of travelling abroad. Under the Punjab Travel Professionals' Regulation Act, 2012, travel agents must obtain a licence from the Deputy Commissioner's office, which is valid for five years and can be renewed. They are required to display their licence at their office, keep records of clients and services, notify authorities before advertising or hosting seminars, and operate only within their permitted scope of services. Non-compliance can result in suspension or cancellation of the licence and legal action.

On February 17, the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the state government to take action on a petition demanding steps against fake travel agents. The petitioner requested both the central and Punjab governments to set up "emigration check posts" in every district under the Emigration Act, 1983. This would help regulate migration and prevent illegal travel.

He also emphasised the need for an updated list of certified recruiting agents and approved foreign employers to help people find legitimate job opportunities. During the hearing, Dheeraj Jain, representing the central government, informed the court that most deported immigrants had initially travelled to European countries on study or tourist visas before illegally entering the US. The court also learned that the Protector of Emigrants (POE) office in Chandigarh had received 127 complaints from Punjab about illegal agents—57 directly and 70 through other sources—which were forwarded to the Punjab government for action. The bench closed the case, allowing the petitioner to raise his concerns with the state government. Since February 5, 2025, a total of 335 Indians have been deported, including 12 who were sent back on Sunday. These deportations are part of the Trump administration’s efforts to tighten immigration laws. On Saturday, US President Donald Trump defended his government's decision to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.

“The fraudsters, liars, cheaters, globalists and deep state bureaucrats are being sent packing,” Trump said at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) outside Washington. “Illegal alien criminals are being sent home. We're draining the swamp and restoring government by the people.” Over the past four years, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained one million immigrants, including nearly 25,000 Indians. The highest number of detained Indians was recorded in 2022 at 9,207, a sharp rise from 1,835 in 2021, though detentions declined in 2023 and 2024 while deportations continued.

According to the Pew Research Centre, unauthorised immigrants made up 3.3% of the total US population and 23% of the foreign-born population in 2022. Indians should be aware that entering any country illegally can lead to serious trouble, as those caught may face long-term consequences, including difficulties in legally re-entering the US if deported.

Ajay Sharma, founder of Abhinav Immigration Services, said, "There are not many legal pathways for those on illegal status, especially the ones with criminal records. Even those without criminal records who try to file in any permitted category must leave the country once to get new status validated, and the probability of being denied re-entry is still very high. Interestingly, the scope of entry and residency in other key destinations also gets restricted under the circumstances," he added.

Jonathan Grode, the US practice director and managing partner at Green and Spiegel, an immigration law firm in Philadelphia, explained that people who have entered the country illegally have very few options available to them. "Options really depend on the person’s individual status and if they have family or other means of staying in the US, such as asylum. Generally speaking, employment sponsorship is not an option," he said.

 "If you are a visa overstay, marriage to a US citizen can quell the issue – but no other filing really can. So even if you had an employer, it does not mean you can get status. The only other real avenue is asylum – but that is predicated on a specific fear of harm if you return to your home country," Grode added. The US is keeping strict immigration rules in place, clearly stating that people who enter without permission will not be allowed.