Punjab authorities have revoked the licenses of 40 travel agents as part of a significant effort to dismantle illegal immigration networks, according to statements made to the media by officials. Ongoing raids are being conducted, and cases are being filed against individuals implicated in unauthorized migration activities. Government statistics indicate that Punjabis, alongside Gujaratis, constitute the largest group of Indians deported from the United States. In February alone, three flights on the 5th, 15th, and 16th returned a total of 333 deportees, with 126 individuals, or approximately 38%, hailing from Punjab. Since May 2020, Amritsar has witnessed the arrival of 21 such deportation flights.
The province has experienced an increase in illegal migration facilitated by deceptive visa schemes, commonly known as the “Dunki route.” Over the past three years, more than 3,200 cases have been initiated against travel agents, resulting in numerous arrests, including that of Punjabi singer Fatehjit Singh in September of the previous year. The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia continue to be the primary destinations for illegal migration.
