The United States Embassy in India on Tuesday issued a stern warning to Indian nationals, highlighting 'significant criminal penalties' for those attempting to migrate illegally to the US or violating American laws.

Relations between Washington and New Delhi have grown tense over the past year, following US President Donald Trump’s sweeping 50% tariffs on Indian goods and India’s concerns over increased US engagement with Pakistan after the May conflict between the two South Asian neighbors.

In a post on X, the US Embassy stated: “If you break US law, you will be punished with significant criminal penalties. The Trump Administration is committed to ending illegal immigration to the United States and protecting our nation’s borders and our citizens.” Notably, similar warnings have not been issued by US missions in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, Myanmar, or China.

Since taking office in January, President Trump has pursued a strict crackdown on illegal immigration, implementing new policies and carrying out mass deportations throughout 2025. In February, a US military aircraft deported 104 Indian nationals, landing in Amritsar - a first for the US government to use a military plane for deportation purposes.

In addition to deportations, the Trump administration has made it more difficult for immigrants to secure visas. In September, Trump announced a $100,000 fee for H-1B skilled worker visas, which allow companies to employ foreign professionals such as scientists, engineers, and programmers for an initial period of three years, extendable to six.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs warned that the new H-1B visa fees could have humanitarian consequences, potentially affecting families. Similarly, Indian IT industry body Nasscom expressed concern over the implementation timeline for the $100,000 fee, which could impact high-tech workers seeking US employment.

Since January 20, the Trump administration has revoked roughly 80,000 non-immigrant visas for offenses ranging from driving under the influence (around 16,000 cases) to assault (12,000 cases) and theft (8,000 cases), according to a senior State Department official speaking anonymously. These three categories alone accounted for nearly half of all visa revocations this year.

In August, the State Department reported that over 6,000 student visas had been revoked for overstaying or breaking US laws, including a small number for alleged “support for terrorism.”

The embassy’s warning comes amid a broader US policy push to curb illegal immigration while tightening visa rules for skilled workers from India.