New Delhi: As many as 64 out of the 130 Indian students who were arrested by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for enrolling themselves into the fictitious ‘University of Farmington’ in January under a ‘pay-to-stay’ scheme have been released and are being deported to India, diplomatic sources told ThePrint.
Although these students are unlikely to face a travel ban to the US for further studies or job, there could some cases where students face a ban between three and five years. This is because different states in the US have different laws and these students were apprehended from across various states, said the sources.
The Indian students who were arrested mostly belong to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Also read: Most Indian students ‘trapped’ in US visa fraud have master’s degrees from American colleges
Answers sought
The Indian government has taken up the matter with US “very seriously” and has also sought answers from the US’ Department of Homeland Security on the need for creating such a trap and luring the students when there are adequate laws in America to apprehend those who violate visa laws, said the sources.
ICE created the Farmington University in 2015 and lured students with cheap tuition fees for undergraduate and graduate courses.
Enrolling to the university would have also helped the students to convert from F1 visa status to a H1B visa holder by taking the route through two programmes — Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT) — that allowed them to work under their respective fields.
The government, the sources added, has also apprised the US government of a couple of more such fake universities that are once again trying to trap overseas students and “compelling them” to break the law and find an easy way to stay in the US.
India, however, does not rule out the possibility that some of these students were aware of the crime they were committing. But there were also genuine cases in which students kept enquiring about the university, its courses, schedule of classes to be held and the faculty.
Also read: 129 Indian students detained for visa fraud could face lifelong ban from entering US
Shubham: This university was opened during President Obama’s government. The word is that there are a couple of other such universities opened. What I dont understand is that if its illegal to work on 2nd CPT, why do universities give it. A lot of grey in this country’s immigration system.
This was classic attempt by Trump administration to SCANDALIZE the immigration process and to label Indians. This was the sole purpose to create fake university. This SCANDAL was cover for crack down on Indian students going into the US.
Phir bhi vaapis jaana chahte hain … Incorrigible. We should really introspect why so many bright young Indians are fleeing our shores, willing to break immigration laws in the process.
Agree.. but not all of them are bright. Bright ones get invited and welcomed there. The area from where these folks belong in India, their prospects to bargain for dowry increases if they live in US.