NEW DEHLI/WASHINGTON – The United States has warned Indian nationals of severe criminal penalties for illegally entering the country or violating US laws, underscoring a renewed crackdown on unlawful immigration under the Trump administration.
The US Embassy in India said curbing illegal immigration remains a top priority.
Posting on social media platform X, the embassy cautioned that anyone found breaching US law would face serious criminal consequences, adding that Washington remains committed to safeguarding its borders and citizens.
The warning comes amid strains in US–India relations, driven in part by President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 50 percent tariff on Indian goods and recent US engagement with Pakistan following heightened Pakistan–India tensions in May.
According to reports, Washington has not issued similar public warnings to citizens of other countries, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, Myanmar or China.
Since President Trump returned to office in January, the US has enforced stricter immigration measures, resulting in large-scale deportations throughout 2025. In February, 104 Indian nationals were deported to Amritsar aboard a US military aircraft—the first instance of a military plane being used for deportation.
The US has also tightened visa policies. In September, President Trump ordered an increase in H-1B visa fees, a move that drew strong objections from the Indian government and the IT industry.
Meanwhile, the US Department of State said more than 80,000 non-immigrant visas have been cancelled since January for offences including drunk driving, violence, and theft. In August alone, over 6,000 student visas were revoked for legal violations and overstaying.
