Lok Sabha Question No. 1029 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-05
Subject: Check on Illegal Migration
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Murari Lal Meena

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1029

ANSWERED ON- 05/12/2025

CHECK ON ILLEGAL MIGRATION

† 1029.   SHRI  MURARI LAL MEENA

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-

(a) whether large-scale financial fraud is being committed against Indian citizens in the name of  sending them abroad through the socalled 'Donkey Route';

(b) if  so, the number of  such cases registered in various States during the last three years;

(c) whether the Government has data regarding the countries from which Indian citizens, who reached abroad through the 'Donkey Route', have been deported back to India handcuffed or detained during the last three years, if  so, the details thereof;

(d)   the   details   of the   concrete   steps   taken   by   the   Central Government so far to curb incidents of  human trafficking and illegal migration of this nature; and

(e)   whether   the   Government   has   launched   any   special   drive   or international   cooperation   initiative   against   such   agents,   travel companies or touts and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (e)  Data relating to registration of cases of trafficking to other countries including through 'Donkey Route', is not maintained by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).  Most of the foreign countries do not share details of Indian deportees.   As and when complaints of illegal migration/human trafficking are received, they are referred to the State Government for investigation and prosecution under the relevant legal provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The number of Indian nationals deported from the US to India on various grounds including illegal stay, overstay, criminal conviction, etc., in the last three years is placed below:

| Year                     |   No. of Indian nationals deported from US |
|--------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| 2023                     |                                        617 |
| 2024                     |                                       1368 |
| 2025 (as of 21 November) |                                       3155 |

Government accords utmost priority to the safety, security and wellbeing of Indian nationals abroad and encourages only legal form of migration from India.   MEA routinely organizes outreach programs to sensitize   various   stakeholders   about   benefits   of   safe   and   legal migration   and   on   possible   ways   of   preventing   illegal   migration through   fake   or   unregistered   recruitment   agencies.   Information about illegal agents is also uploaded and updated on regular basis on the eMigrate Portal.   MEA also issues advisories, media briefings and   tweets   about   fake   job   rackets   from   time   to   time.   Such communications are also issued by concerned Indian Missions/Posts abroad through their websites and social media handles and through the print media.

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has undertaken several measures to tackle the issue of illegal immigration and border security along international borders.  MHA, through its border guarding forces, has adopted a multi-pronged approach to tackle illegal immigration and

strengthen   border   security,   which   include   enhanced   border surveillance,  strengthening border infrastructure,  regular patrolling & checkpoints,  intelligence & coordination,  regulated cross-border movement,  community engagement & awareness and  cross-border cooperation. The State/UT governments are primarily responsible for prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of crimes related to human trafficking   and   illegal   migration.   The   Central   Government supplements the initiatives of the States/UTs through advisories, public awareness and information sharing, in coordination with 16 Protector of Emigrants (PoEs) offices across India. Several State/UT law enforcement agencies, in coordination with central agencies have conducted joint raids and taken strict action against illegal agents and networks involved in illegal migration, including filing of FIRs. Central agencies, including NIA have also identified several individuals for the purpose of filing FIRs in the matters related to human  trafficking, which is an ongoing process.

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