The Gujarat Police has initiated an investigation into whether the 33 deportees from the state, among the 104 individuals deported from the United States earlier this week, used fraudulent means to obtain visas for the intermediate countries through which they travelled before attempting to enter the US illegally.
The deportees, comprising families, couples, and children, were returned to India aboard a US military aircraft after being classified as “illegal aliens” under the administration’s immigration policies.
The state government has directed the Superintendents of Police (SPs) of the deportees’ home districts to conduct detailed investigations into their travel history and the documents used to obtain visas for transit countries.
The state authorities have also instructed law enforcement to approach the matter with “sensitivity and empathy,” ensuring proper arrangements for their transport to their respective hometowns.
Senior police officials have confirmed to a news outlet that the deportees will be required to provide detailed statements regarding their journey in the coming days.
Each case is being treated individually as the deportees used different routes and timelines to enter the US. The police will examine whether any forged documents were used to secure visas in transit countries and, if necessary, register separate First Information Reports (FIRs) in the respective districts.
Authorities in North Gujarat have stated that deportees will be asked to submit documents related to their visa applications. Investigators are focusing on whether agents facilitated the procurement of falsified documents to secure long-stay visas in intermediate countries, as reaching the US border is often a prolonged process.
Some deportees claim to have travelled in January, but records indicate that many left Gujarat several months ago and entered the US only recently.
The police suspect that in some cases, agents may have acquired forged offer letters to support temporary stay visa applications in transit countries. The investigation aims to trace the entire documentation process used by the deportees, determining whether fraudulent methods were employed to gain entry into the US through third-party nations.
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