In a stunning revelation, a report by the Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has exposed that 92 percent of travel agents operating in Punjab are illegal, running their businesses without a valid license. Out of thousands of immigration consultants in the state, only 212 agents — just eight percent — are legally registered under Central Government guidelines as per the MEA report, which has sent shockwaves across the State.
 
The situation is even more alarming in eight districts, including Sri Muktsar Sahib, Tarn Taran, Faridkot, Pathankot, Ferozepur, Malerkotla, Fazilka, and Mansa, where not a single travel agent has a valid license. Yet, these regions have thriving immigration businesses, highlighting the massive scale of unauthorized operations in Punjab’s travel and immigration sector. They are putting innocent people at risk of fraud, exploitation, and human trafficking besides highlighting the deep-rooted nexus of fraudulent immigration rackets that have preyed upon thousands of aspiring migrants.
 
Punjab has long been considered the epicenter of illegal immigration in India, with thousands of youth aspiring to settle abroad. The lack of stringent regulation has allowed fraudulent travel agents to exploit this trend, charging exorbitant fees while making false promises of work permits, student visas, and permanent residency in countries like the USA, Canada, Australia, and the UK. 
 
The MEA report warned that these unlicensed agents are responsible for forgery of documents like fake job offers, university admission letters; human trafficking like sending people abroad on illegal routes like the ‘dunki’ route; visa fraud like submitting fake applications leading to deportations; or financial scams like charging Rs 15 to Rs 30 lakhs per person and disappearing.
 
These startling revelations come close on the heels of 104 Indians, including 30 from Punjab, being deported by the United States earlier this month. Their harrowing experiences have laid bare a massive human smuggling network stretching across multiple continents. 
 
The MEA report shed light on the unregulated and chaotic state of Punjab’s immigration industry, where thousands of unauthorized agents operate freely, making false promises of foreign jobs, student visas, and green cards. The report further stated that of the 212 registered travel agents, at least 65 have expired licenses, and several others are under scrutiny for alleged malpractice.
 
Among the districts, Jalandhar tops the list with 86 licensed travel agents, though 16 of them are awaiting renewal, and four have been canceled. Mohali follows with 31 registered agents, making it the second-highest district in Punjab for legal immigration services. Hoshiarpur has 22 legal agents, followed by Ludhiana with 20.
 
In contrast, districts like Fatehgarh Sahib, Sangrur, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Moga, and Kapurthala have only one to three licensed agents each. Meanwhile, cities like Bathinda, Patiala, and Ferozepur — despite being major hubs for immigration aspirants — have barely any registered agents, with most operating in the grey or illegal sector.
 
The situation has escalated to a national security concern, with the Central Government reportedly preparing to crack down on thousands of unregistered travel agents across Punjab, Delhi, Gujarat, and Chandigarh. The illegal immigration crisis has drawn attention at the highest levels, with federal agencies now looking into the files of the recently deported migrants to identify and prosecute the masterminds behind these smuggling networks. Intelligence reports indicated that 2730 fake agents from Punjab alone have been identified in the past six months, and cases are being registered against them. 
 
“Several of these agents have been blacklisted, and the central agencies will soon launch an operation to shut down illegal immigration offices. Those found guilty of fraud will face strict legal action, including arrests and cancellation of passports,” said a senior government official. 
 
Additionally, the files of deported Indian citizens are being reviewed, and the agents responsible for their fraudulent paperwork will be prosecuted under human trafficking and fraud laws, added the official.

The Punjab Police has recently launched an aggressive crackdown on these fake agents. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to investigate all aspects of the racket, and so far, eight FIRs have been registered.