Washington, D.C. — The United States has imposed visa restrictions on owners, executives, and senior officials of India-based travel agencies accused of facilitating illegal immigration, the State Department announced on Monday.
In a statement released by spokesperson Tammy Bruce, the department said the targeted individuals “knowingly facilitated illegal immigration to the United States.” However, the statement did not disclose the names of the individuals or the agencies involved, nor did it detail the specific methods by which illegal immigration was allegedly enabled.
The move comes as part of a broader crackdown on unlawful migration under the administration of President Donald Trump, who returned to office earlier this year. The State Department said the visa bans were implemented following investigations by its Consular Affairs and Diplomatic Security Service teams in India, which identified those involved in smuggling and trafficking operations.
“These measures are aimed at dismantling networks that support alien smuggling and human trafficking,” the department said. It added that the restrictions could apply even to individuals eligible for the Visa Waiver Program, which allows citizens of certain countries to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business without a visa for up to 90 days.
“Enforcing U.S. immigration laws and policies is critical to upholding the rule of law and protecting Americans,” Bruce said.
The announcement comes amid an intensified immigration enforcement campaign. U.S. embassies around the world have been using social media platforms to warn visa holders against overstaying their authorized periods of stay, cautioning that violations could lead to deportation and permanent bans from re-entry.
The State Department signaled that it will continue to impose similar restrictions as part of its efforts to curb unauthorized migration and dismantle human smuggling operations.
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