Chandigarh, July 9: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday carried out raids at multiple locations across Punjab and Haryana as part of a crackdown on travel agents allegedly involved in illegal immigration via the infamous ‘Dunki route’. The raids were conducted by ED’s Zonal Office in Jalandhar at 11 locations, including Amritsar, Patiala, Moga, Ambala, Kurukshetra, and Karnal.
The operation follows the recent deportation of 104 Indian nationals from the United States, who had entered the country illegally. The deportees included 30 from Punjab, 33 each from Haryana and Gujarat, three from Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, and two from Chandigarh. They were flown back in a US military aircraft that landed in Amritsar earlier this year, marking the first such deportation under President Donald Trump’s second term.
The term ‘Dunki route’ refers to a network of illegal immigration channels used to smuggle individuals from developing countries, including India, into the US and Europe. These often dangerous journeys involve crossing multiple international borders, rivers, and jungles, particularly through Mexico, where migrants walk for miles under harsh conditions to reach the US border.
Experts cite unemployment and an ongoing agrarian crisis in states like Punjab and Haryana as key reasons behind the growing exodus of youth seeking better opportunities abroad. The high cost of farming and shrinking land holdings have left many disillusioned with prospects at home.
While legal pathways such as student visas remain popular, the lure of a better life abroad has fueled a booming market for travel and immigration consultants. Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh have seen a surge in such consultancy firms, with many now under the ED’s scanner for alleged involvement in human trafficking networks.
The investigation remains ongoing.
