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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MUDA case: Court raps Lokayukta over delay in submitting final report
Bengaluru (PTI): The Special Court for People's Representatives on Thursday expressed displeasure with the Lokayukta for failing to file the final investigation report in the MUDA land site allotment case, involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Despite clear directions from the court to submit the final "B report" by December 18 in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case, the Lokayukta placed only an interim progress report.
Questioning the delay, the judge sought an explanation from Lokayukta officials, who stated that the final report could not be filed as prosecution sanction against certain officials was still awaited.
During the proceedings, the court asked the Special Public Prosecutor to produce the case diary. The prosecutor submitted that the report could be placed before the court in a sealed cover if additional time was granted.
This was strongly opposed by the complainant, activist Snehamayi Krishna, who alleged that there was an attempt to mislead the court.
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Krishna further contended that no meaningful investigation had been conducted and accused the authorities of shielding the accused. He also claimed that no witnesses had been examined, despite specific directions issued by the court.
Observing that it could not pass any order in the absence of a final investigation report, the court adjourned the matter.
The special court deferred its orders on the petitions challenging the Lokayukta's B report and the clean chit granted to CM Siddaramaiah and three others to December 23.
The Lokayukta Police in February had given a clean chit to Siddaramaiah, his wife B M Parvathi, and two other accused in connection with the case, stating that allegations against them have not been proven due to lack of evidence.
Siddaramaiah, his wife, brother-in-law B M Mallikarjun Swamy, Devaraju -- from whom Swamy had purchased a land and gifted it to Parvathi -- and others have been named in the FIR registered by the Lokayukta police on September 27, 2024.
In the site allotment case, it is alleged that 14 compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife in an upmarket area in Mysuru (Vijayanagar Layout 3rd and 4th stages), which had higher property value as compared to the location of her land which had been "acquired" by MUDA.
The MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land, where it developed a residential layout.
Under the controversial scheme, MUDA allotted 50 per cent of developed land to the land losers in lieu of undeveloped land acquired from them for forming residential layouts.
It was also alleged that Parvathi had no legal title over the 3.16 acres of land at survey number 464 of Kasare village, Kasaba hobli of Mysuru taluk.
