San Jose, California — Satnam Singh Chahal, Executive Director of the North American Punjabi Association (NAPA), has issued a strong warning to the youth of Punjab and other parts of India against falling prey to fraudulent travel agents who are exploiting the desperation of young people by promising illegal entry into foreign countries—particularly the United States—through fake documents and dangerous routes like the “Dunki route.”
Chahal’s statement comes in light of recent arrests at Delhi’s IGI Airport, where multiple youths were found with forged visas and travel documents. In one case, three men paid Rs 17 lakh each for jobs in Spain but were caught with fake Schengen visas. In another incident, a 21-year-old youth from Mansa, Punjab, was deported from the U.S. after immigration officers discovered tampered passport stamps arranged by a Punjab-based agent now under arrest.A Punjab-based agent allegedly involved in facilitating illegal entry of Indians into the United States through a ‘Dunki route’ has been arrested by Delhi Police, an official said on Monday.The accused, Jagjeet Singh alias Jassa , a resident of Rajpura in Punjab, was held following the deportation of a 21-year-old Indian youth from the US, who was found travelling with a tampered passport, police said.
“These fraudulent agents are not just criminals, they are destroyers of families and futures,” said Chahal. “Young men and women, filled with hopes of better lives, are being lured into a trap of lies, danger, and exploitation. Their dreams are being shattered, and their families are being pushed into debt and despair.”
Chahal condemned the use of the “Dunki route,” an illegal transcontinental path involving multiple countries, often traversed on foot or via dangerous smuggling operations. Migrants face arrest, starvation, physical abuse, and exploitation by international human traffickers. “The so-called Dunki route is not a shortcut to success—it is a direct road to suffering and sometimes death,” he said.
NAPA is calling on Indian authorities to intensify crackdowns on these networks and work with international law enforcement to dismantle human smuggling syndicates. Chahal also urged the Indian media and civil society to launch strong awareness campaigns in rural and urban areas alike.
“We appeal to parents and youth: do not be fooled. No genuine immigration process involves fake papers, midnight departures, or huge cash payments. Legal immigration is the only safe and sustainable option,” Chahal emphasized.