Deadly Routes

Migration that's been entrenched for generations, particularly in Punjab. For many, going abroad is not just a desire—it's a tradition, a measure of success.

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Agents prey on this sentiment. Often operating without licenses, they promise "guaranteed visas" and "secure jobs," offering fabricated stories and forged documents to bolster their claims. Families, desperate and hopeful, sell land, pawn jewelry, or borrow money to fund the dream. What they get in return is usually betrayal.

A study by Johns Hopkins University highlights the increasing trend of illegal migration from India and the states of Punjab and Haryana. These states dominate the list of deportees from the United States in the past couple of years. The United States has deported 332 undocumented Indian immigrants in 2025, with 38 percent hailing from Punjab, followed by Haryana (33%), and Gujarat (22%). The scale of the racket is staggering.

Earlier this month, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided 18 locations across Punjab and Haryana as part of a major crackdown. These included hotspots like Amritsar, Patiala, Ambala, and Kurukshetra. Investigators recovered 30 original passports, fake immigration stamps, and documents revealing hawala transactions worth crores. They also uncovered links to international networks—including Canadian colleges allegedly issuing fake student visas.