Victims of US immigration fraud reluctant to file report

Despite the Punjab Police setting up a four-member fact-finding team to investigate human trafficking and illegal migration, illicit migrants from the United States remain hesitant to come forward and file complaints against the immigration fraudsters behind their exploitation.

So far, only Daler Singh, a resident of Salempura village in Rajasansi, has approached the police to lodge an FIR in the case. Out of 104 illegal immigrants deported from the United States on Wednesday, 30 were from Punjab and four of them hailed from Amritsar.

On Thursday, the police registered a case against Satnam Singh, a resident of Kotli Khaira village, who operated his office in Ajnala. His office was sealed following the FIR, but he remains absconding. Daler’s complaint alleged Satnam took a total of Rs 60 lakh over multiple occasions, promising to send him to the US with legally valid documents. Instead, he was smuggled through the ‘dunki’ route.

“We have only received one complaint so far and the other victims of immigration fraud have yet to approach the police,” said Senior Superintendent of Police (Amritsar Rural) Charanjit Singh Sohal. He added efforts were underway to apprehend Satnam, who fled after the deportation of the illegal immigrants.

The reluctance of victims to come forward has been a significant obstacle for the Punjab Police in curbing the activities of illegal travel agents. In December 2023, a flight bound for Nicaragua, carrying around 300 passengers — mostly Punjabis — was grounded in France before being sent back to India. Among them, 12 were from Amritsar and only two lodged complaints, leading to the arrest of Batala-based travel agent Tarsem Singh. However, the remaining passengers did not file FIRs.