Hyderabad: Young individuals from parts of southern India are falling victim to fraudulent agents promising illegal migration routes to the United States. These so-called ‘dunki agents’, a colloquial term referring to unauthorised immigration, have been exploiting the aspirations of students and job seekers, charging exorbitant fees with false promises of swift relocation.These agents mainly belong to Punjab and Haryana.“I gave 12.5 lakh to an agent who claimed to have sent dozens to the US through Mexico. He was from Haryana. He said everything — tickets, fake visas, shelter — would be arranged in a month. That was in early 2022,” said Karthik Reddy*, a 24-year-old from Warangal, who quit his undergraduate studies to prepare for the supposed journey. “I kept following up for six months, and he kept delaying. Then sometime last year, he just randomly sent me a ticket to El Salvador but did not give me any information. I tried calling again, but he never picked up my call again,” he added. Another victim, Mohammed Imran* from Hyderabad shared a similar story. “They showed us fake testimonials and photos of people who supposedly reached the US. I trusted them. My parents sold land to pay the 12 lakh they demanded. Now, the number is switched off. I cannot even seek help from the police,” he revealed, adding, “I am ashamed to even tell my relatives. Everyone thinks I’m in America. I have been hiding the truth for over a year.“The victims allege that agents take advantage of their desperation — fuelled by unemployment and dreams of a better life abroad — and operate freely across urban and rural pockets of the twin Telugu states.“I was even sent a photo of my supposed accommodation in El Paso. I later discovered it was a random image lifted from Google,” said Lakshmi Narayan*, a final-year engineering student from Raichur district in Karnataka. Many have been left in deep financial distress, with no sign of a refund or recourse. These personal accounts mirror a broader trend. According to the Pew Research Center, as of 2022, there were approximately 6.75 lakh unauthorised Indian immigrants in the US, making India the third-largest source of illegal immigrants after Mexico and El Salvador. For those like Karthik, however, the damage is already done. “All I wanted was a chance to work and support my family. Now, I don’t even have the courage to try for a visa the legal way,” he said. *Names have been changed to protect identities
