WORLD NEWS

In a new phase of illegal immigration to the United States, migrants from India and other nations are paying smuggling networks substantial fees for travel packages that include airline tickets, bus rides, and hotel stays en route to the US-Mexico border.

These routes involve charter flights to Central America, with migrants then traveling overland to the border.
The Biden administration is working with regional governments and travel companies to curb this flow, revoking US visas for owners and executives of charter airlines and other companies suspected of facilitating smuggling.
Here are some FAQs based on Reuters investigations:
What are the new routes for illegal migrants?
As per a Reuters investigation, one route starts in West Africa, with migrants paying up to $10,000 for multi-stop commercial flights to Nicaragua before continuing by land to the US. The second route, serving migrants from India, offers charter flights to Central America and overland transfers to the US border for between $72,000 and $96,000 per person, with full payment often due after arrival in the US.
Nicaragua has emerged as a new entry point for many migrants, with President Daniel Ortega’s government allowing individuals from anywhere in the world to fly directly in exchange for a cash payment. The US has taken steps to impose visa restrictions on Nicaraguan officials and sanctions on government-affiliated companies over irregular migration and repressive policies, the Reuters investigation found.
What triggered the investigation into these new routes?
On July 15, when a Legend Airlines Airbus A340 touched down at San Salvador airport after an 18-hour journey from the United Arab Emirates, the crew sensed something was amiss. Salvadoran officials, suspecting the nature of the flight, refused to connect the jet bridge, leaving approximately 300 passengers, all Indian nationals, stranded on the plane. According to three former crew members who spoke to Reuters anonymously, several passengers admitted their intentions to travel to Mexico and then cross into the US illegally.
Salvadoran officials and their US counterparts grew suspicious after noticing an unusual pattern of charter flights arriving in El Salvador with Indian nationals who claimed to be tourists but had minimal luggage for extended stays. Nearly all passengers disembarking in San Salvador were later found to have crossed the US border illegally, the Reuters report said.
What is the cost of these new smuggling routes?
According to Indian court documents and KT Kamariya, a deputy superintendent of police in Gujarat, India, migrants from India pay between 6 million ($72,000) and 8 million rupees ($96,000) for packages that include charter flights to Central America and overland transfers to the US border.
How have US authorities responded to this new smuggling tactic?
The US administration has been collaborating with regional governments and travel companies to curb the flow of migrants. Measures include revoking U.S. visas for owners and executives of companies suspected of facilitating smuggling and warning commercial airlines to monitor passengers who might be intending to migrate illegally.
What are the broader implications of these smuggling routes for US immigration policy?
These new routes complicate the enforcement of US immigration laws, especially as the Biden administration faces criticism and political pressure over high border crossings. The administration attributes the surge in migration to global economic and political instability, while opponents argue that current policies encourage illegal migration.
How are these new routes avoiding traditional migration barriers?
The new smuggling routes bypass visa requirements for direct flights to Mexico and the dangerous Darien Gap trek between Colombia and Panama. Instead, migrants are flown to Central American countries like Nicaragua and El Salvador, from where they make overland journeys to the US border.
What role does Nicaragua play in these smuggling operations?
Blas Nuñez-Neto, the US Department of Homeland Security’s assistant secretary for Border and Immigration Policy, identified Nicaragua as a new entry point for many migrants. The Nicaraguan government, led by President Daniel Ortega, has been accused of exploiting migration flows by allowing anyone from around the world to enter the country in exchange for cash payments.

What impact has this had on the passengers caught in these operations?
Many migrants, like Gurpreet Singh from India, have faced multiple failed attempts to enter the US, often resulting in financial ruin and legal troubles. Singh, who paid $72,000 for a smuggling package, was deported from several countries and now faces forgery charges in India.