On Monday, the State Department announced it would impose visa restrictions on “owners, executives, and senior officials” of Indian travel agencies accused of actively promoting illegal immigration to the United States.
“Our immigration policy is designed to inform foreigners about the risks of illegal immigration to the United States and hold accountable those who violate our laws, including those facilitating illegal immigration,” said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
Bruce did not specify any individuals or travel agencies affected by the ban. She mentioned that the action was based on information gathered by the U.S. diplomatic mission. She cautioned Indian citizens that overstaying their visas could lead to deportation. Currently, even for those in the visa waiver program, visitors face a 90-day limit without a tourist visa.
The Times of India noted that two recent deportation cases involving Indian citizens have gained attention.
Ranjani Srinivasan, a PhD student at Columbia University, fled to Canada after her visa was revoked due to alleged participation in a Pro-Palestinian protest. This highlights the potential consequences of visa issues for individuals trying to navigate the U.S. immigration system.
Meanwhile, Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown University scholar, was arrested because of suspected associations with Hamas, given that his wife is the daughter of a former aide to a Hamas leader. He was later released after the court found insufficient evidence to support national security claims against him.
The Times of India reports that, while the details of Srinivasan’s case have been significantly edited, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has pointed to her situation as a noteworthy example.
Srinivasan’s case is particularly tangled; she had to disclose a subpoena related to an incident at Columbia University last year. While her legal team managed to have the charges dismissed, the implications lingered in her visa renewal process. She referred to it as a “mistake,” an interpretation supported by her advocates, which reflects the complexities of her situation during a politically charged time.
Additionally, Srinivasan made a point of evading authorities prior to her departure from LaGuardia Airport.
Conversely, Badar Khan Suri has faced a rather different set of challenges. His release came after months in custody at a Texas detention facility following his arrest in Arlington, where he claimed to have been treated inhumanely by immigration officials.
For both individuals, the nuances of their circumstances illustrate the broader implications of immigration policy. After a particularly violent attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, Suri had posted on Facebook in defense of the actions taken by Palestinians, then later expressed doubt about the narrative surrounding that attack.
In any event, these individual cases should not directly influence the State Department’s firm stance toward Indian travel agencies.
Hindustan Times reported that the deployment of U.S. military aircraft for deportation flights last Tuesday saw over 300 Indian nationals removed after employing Indian travel agents to facilitate their illegal entry into the U.S. via complex routes.
These routes, often referred to in Punjabi as “Robert” or “Dankiroot,” involve perilous journeys through Latin American countries with lenient visa policies, after which, individuals traverse harsh terrains to reach the Mexican border.
Such methods have been used for years, enriching travel agencies until heightened scrutiny following a revealing documentary and the return of Trump to the presidency in 2025.
One of the reasons these routes remain attractive is that the travel agents organizing them aren’t breaking any Indian laws. The unlawful activities begin only when immigrants set foot in Latin America, where entry is still permissible for Indian citizens.
Agencies not involved in these illegal schemes have shown support for the State Department’s visa restrictions.
Ritesh Desai, owner of Ryna Overseas, stated, “As a company devoted to authentic student enrollment abroad, we are in favor of actions that uphold the integrity of the system,” Hindustan Times.
Desai highlighted that these unlawful pathways make it tougher for legitimate travelers seeking the necessary documentation.
Similarly, Kuljit Singh Hayer, leader of the Punj-Aab Travel Agency Association, expressed approval for the State Department’s move but raised concerns about its practical implementation.
“Primarily, how will they identify or track down the travel agents involved in promoting illegal immigration? Those engaged in such activities often operate under aliases,” he pointed out.
Interestingly, U.S. media covers the visa ban without frequently referencing the donkey routes. This oversight suggests a lack of serious engagement with long-standing border issues, which makes the government’s actions appear somewhat arbitrary and perplexing.
