Eleven Indian Students Arrested For Trying To Illegally Stay In US

Federal law enforcement agencies have arrested 15 students, including 11 from India, on charges of fraudulently staying inside the country.

These students were arrested Wednesday from various locations in Boston, Washington, Houston, Ft. Lauderdale, Newark, Nashville, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. In addition to 11 Indian nationals, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement also arrested two Libyans, one Senegalese and one Bangladeshi national.

As indicated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities, the captures were made because of Operation Optical Illusion, a law authorization activity focusing on nonimmigrant understudies who falsely utilized the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program to stay in the US. 

Select empowers nonimmigrant understudies to work in the US in positions identified with their field of study for as long as one year, with an extra two years if the understudy partakes in STEM discretionary reasonable



preparing. 

Movement and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities said these understudies professed to be utilized by organizations that don't exist. 

"This is simply one more case of the Trump Administration putting America first as well as ensuring the laws of the movement framework are authorized," said Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli.

"Every instance of fraud is a job an American worker could have had, and with so many Americans looking for work this crime is even more unacceptable," he said.

"ICE has a system of checks in place to mitigate fraud and is committed to protecting national security by ensuring that students, visitors, and schools comply with US immigration laws," said ICE Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director Tony Pham.

"These latest arrests demonstrate that the agency is actively targeting individuals who try to exploit the student visa system," he said.