1. Recruitment by Local Agents
- Agents Target Vulnerable Individuals: Traffickers and their agents identify individuals who are eager to migrate, often from rural or semi-urban areas. These people are usually looking for better economic opportunities or an escape from difficult circumstances.
- False Promises: Agents promise these individuals a "safe" and "guaranteed" entry into the U.S., offering stories of success and highlighting shortcuts to bypass the lengthy legal immigration process.
- High Fees: Each individual is charged a substantial fee, often ranging between ₹55 lakh to ₹60 lakh (approximately $70,000–$75,000). Families sometimes sell assets, take loans, or mortgage property to afford these fees.
2. Fake Admissions to Canadian Colleges
- Student Visa Scheme: Traffickers arrange for individuals to apply to Canadian colleges and universities under the guise of pursuing higher education.
- Collusion with Colleges: Some Canadian colleges—often lesser-known institutions—are allegedly complicit, helping to process student visas for individuals who have no intention of studying.
- Tuition Refunds: In many cases, the tuition fees paid upfront are later refunded to the migrants, indicating potential collusion between the colleges and traffickers.
3. Visa and Travel Arrangements
- Obtaining Canadian Student Visas: Once admitted to a Canadian institution, the traffickers assist the individuals in securing student visas, which allow them legal entry into Canada.
- Travel Assistance: Migrants are guided on travel arrangements, including flights to Canada and instructions on how to present themselves at immigration checkpoints.
4. Transit and Stay in Canada
- Temporary Accommodation: Upon arrival in Canada, the traffickers or their local contacts provide temporary housing near the Canada-US border, often in remote areas.
- Bypassing Studies: Migrants are instructed to skip attending classes and focus on preparing for their illegal border crossing.
5. Illegal Crossing into the US
- Guided Border Crossings: Traffickers use well-established smuggling routes to help migrants cross the Canada-US border. These routes often involve dangerous, remote areas, such as forests or regions with extreme weather conditions.
- Fake Documents: In some cases, migrants are provided with fake identification or asylum paperwork to present to U.S. border officials if caught.
- High Risks: Migrants face life-threatening risks, including freezing temperatures, rough terrain, and the possibility of getting lost, detained, or abandoned by smugglers.
6. Post-Crossing Challenges
- Undocumented Status: After crossing into the U.S., migrants are often left undocumented, making them vulnerable to exploitation by employers or traffickers.
- Debt and Dependence: Many remain in debt to the traffickers, who may demand further payments or threaten their families back in India.
- Fear of Deportation: Migrants live in constant fear of being caught by immigration authorities and deported.
The Network Behind the Process
- Agents in India: Thousands of agents operate locally to recruit clients and facilitate their journey. Reports indicate that around 1,700 agents in Gujarat alone and 3,500 across India are active in this trade.
- Collusion with Foreign Entities: Agreements between Indian agents and Canadian colleges, as well as local contacts near the border, enable the trafficking operation.
- Human Smuggling Syndicates: The entire process is managed by well-organized syndicates that coordinate between India, Canada, and the U.S.
Why It Persists
- Demand for Migration: High aspirations for better lives in the U.S. keep the demand for such illegal routes alive.
- Collusion and Corruption: The involvement of corrupt entities—such as educational institutions, visa facilitators, and local agents—enables these networks to thrive.
- Lack of Awareness: Many migrants underestimate the risks involved, believing the traffickers’ assurances of safety.
Efforts to Combat the Issue
Governments in India, Canada, and the U.S. are working to dismantle these networks through investigations, arrests, and stricter immigration controls. However, addressing the root causes—such as lack of awareness, economic disparities, and the demand for illegal labor—remains crucial to stopping this dangerous practice.
