Fake Immigration Agents Disappear as Police Crackdown Intensifies in Haryana

The dream of earning dollars in America has turned into a nightmare for many Haryana youth, with police now aggressively pursuing those responsible for these shattered hopes. As authorities crack down on immigration fraud, the once-bustling offices of these "donkey agents" have fallen silent. 

Police Action Sends Agents into Hiding

"Since January this year, we've registered 59 cases related to immigration fraud, including three filed by youth who were deported from America," said Naresh Kumar, PRO of Kurukshetra Police. "We've made 65 arrests so far in current and previously registered cases."

The police crackdown follows the deportation of 22 people from Kurukshetra district who had been sent to America through illegal means. Of these, only three came forward to file official complaints against the agents who duped them. 

"While some offices now have locks hanging on their doors, others have completely changed their business names overnight," said a local resident who witnessed an immigration office in his neighborhood transform into a different business within days of the police action beginning.

These fake agents, often referred to as "donkers" (from the term "donkey route" used for illegal border crossings), had mushroomed across the region when demand for American immigration surged. They operated from makeshift offices, collecting millions in cash transactions that violated income tax regulations. 

Families Left Financially Devastated 

The human cost of these scams extends far beyond the deported youth themselves. Many families sold land, homes, jewelry, or borrowed heavily from relatives and banks to finance their children's "American dream." 

"People are embarrassed to come forward because they've lost everything," explained a social worker familiar with several affected families. "Some put their entire family savings or took loans they can now never repay, all because these agents promised guaranteed jobs and legal status in America."

For many deported youth, returning to India means facing not just personal failure but crushing debt and the knowledge that their families' financial security has been destroyed. 

Government Moving to Strengthen Laws 

The Haryana government appears determined to address the issue. During the recent legislative budget session, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mahipal Dhanda presented a proposal to reintroduce the Travel Agent Amendment Act 2024, which had previously been rejected by the Home Ministry. 

"The government is working on stricter legislation to punish those who exploit our youth's aspirations," said a senior official involved in drafting the new provisions. "The goal is to create punishments severe enough that nobody would dare to run such scams in the future."

Experts recommend several precautions for those seeking overseas opportunities. These include verifying agent licenses, conducting all financial transactions through banks rather than cash, thoroughly checking document authenticity, and never handing over checkbooks to agents for any reason.