Photo credit: Hindustan Times
In Lok Sabha Question Hour, Harsimrat Kaur Badal raised serious concerns over the alarming rise in cases of Indian youth—particularly from Punjab and other northern States—being cheated by unscrupulous immigration agents and pushed abroad through illegal “donkey routes” or via fraudulent visas. Her starred question (No. 2370) sought detailed information from the Government regarding the scale of the crisis, the number of victims, and the action taken against such agents.
Responding on behalf of the Government, Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs, acknowledged that fake job offers and fraudulent travel promises continue to lure large numbers of Indians, especially through social media channels. He stated that these scams typically come to light only when affected migrants or their families file complaints. The Government clarified that no accurate nationwide data exists on how many Indians attempt illegal migration each year.
On the issue of deportations, the Minister informed the House that most foreign governments do not provide detailed information on illegal stay or detentions of Indians, except when nationality verification or emergency travel documents are required. However, based on data compiled from Indian Missions abroad, the Ministry has shared a country-wise, year-wise record of deportations over the last five years, attached as Annexure-A.
Addressing the follow-up questions, the Government explained that under the Emigration Act, 1983, no person or agency can operate as a recruitment agent without proper registration. Complaints of human trafficking, illegal recruitment, and fraud are routinely forwarded to State police forces, who act under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other relevant laws. The Ministry has also released State-wise details of action taken against unregistered agents in the last three years (Annexure-B).
To counter the growing menace of fake agents, the Ministry of External Affairs has intensified its nationwide awareness campaign. More than 3,500 unregistered agents—against whom complaints have been filed—have been publicly listed on the Government’s eMigrate portal to warn potential migrants. The Ministry continues to conduct workshops, digital campaigns, training programs for police and local administrators, and sessions for aspiring migrants to promote safe and legal migration.
The Ministry also highlighted the role of the Protector General of Emigrants (PGE) and 16 field offices of the Protector of Emigrants (PoE) in coordinating with State governments, monitoring illegal agents, and strengthening enforcement. Regular meetings with State nodal officers and training sessions on cyber scams, fraudulent social media content, and SOPs for handling illegal migration cases form part of these efforts.
Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s intervention in Parliament shines a spotlight on a growing crisis in Punjab and other northern States, urging the Centre to take stronger steps to curb exploitation and safeguard Indian youth from falling prey to dangerous and illegal migration networks.