50% of US student visas cancelled under Trump affect Indians: Study
Washington: A study by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) reveals that Indians account for 50% of the 327 student visa revocations carried out by the United States since the Trump administration. The US government, using Artificial Intelligence to screen social media posts, has been targeting international students, including those without any history of protest, for visa cancellations and removals under the “catch and revoke” program.
The Congress party, led by Jairam Ramesh, has raised concerns about the arbitrary nature of these cancellations, which have instilled fear and uncertainty among affected students. The Ministry of External Affairs has assured that the Indian embassy and consulate are in contact with the impacted students to offer assistance.
The study highlights that 50% of the affected students were on Optional Practical Training (OPT) and had already graduated. The report describes these actions as unprecedented and calls for greater transparency and accountability. Additionally, the AILA advocates for reforms that would allow students to appeal the terminations of their SEVIS records without affecting their employment status.
Countries such as China, South Korea, Nepal, and Bangladesh have also been affected, with China accounting for the second-highest number of revocations after India. Many of these students faced police interactions for minor offenses, though most were not charged or convicted.
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Delhi: Couple held for stealing cash, valuables from elderly people travelling in e-rickshaws
New Delhi (PTI): A couple has been arrested for allegedly stealing cash or valuables from elderly passengers travelling in e-rickshaws in west Delhi's Moti Nagar area, police said on Sunday.
The accused has been identified as Suresh (25) and his wife, the police said, adding that they were apprehended after an investigation into the theft of Rs 1 lakh from a 60-year-old passenger earlier this week.
According to the police, the complainant, a resident of Kirti Nagar, had hired an e-rickshaw from a showroom on Shivaji Marg on May 13.
The man was carrying a small bag containing Rs 1 lakh cash. After reaching his destination, he found that the bag had been torn and the cash was missing, they said.
An e-FIR was registered at Moti Nagar police station on May 14 and an investigation was launched. A team analysed CCTV footage from the route taken by the complainant and identified the e-rickshaw allegedly used in the crime.
"Using technical surveillance and local inputs, the accused couple was traced and apprehended," a senior police officer said.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly disclosed that they used to target elderly passengers travelling in e-rickshaws and steal cash and valuables from their bags during transit without raising suspicion.
Police recovered Rs 90,000 of the stolen amount from the possession of the accused along with the e-rickshaw used in the commission of the offence.
"The accused had no previous criminal involvement on record. Further investigation is underway to ascertain whether the couple was involved in other similar theft cases targeting passengers and senior citizens in different parts of the city," the police officer added.
