logo
Indian woman caught shoplifting: US embassy reacts after viral video; issues fresh visa warning

Indian woman caught shoplifting: US embassy reacts after viral video; issues fresh visa warning

Time of India7 days ago
(Source: YouTube/Body Cam Edition)
A day after a viral video showed an Indian tourist being arrested for allegedly shoplifting nearly $1,000 worth of items from a Target store in the United States, the US Embassy in India has issued a pointed warning to visa holders: breaking American laws could result in
visa revocation
and a permanent bar from future entry.
In a statement posted on X, the US Embassy said, 'Committing assault, theft, or burglary in the United States won't just cause you legal issues – it could lead to your visa being revoked and make you ineligible for future US visas. The United States values law and order and expects foreign visitors to follow all US laws.'
Just a day earlier, bodycam footage surfaced showing a woman identified as Avlani, an Indian tourist, being arrested for felony theft. The video, shared by YouTube channel @BodyCamEdition, shows her pleading with officers to allow her to pay for the items. 'Why can't I just pay for it?' she asks, but an officer replies, 'We're way past that. You committed a felony.'
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
If you have a mouse, this game will keep you up all night. No Install. Play for free.
Navy Quest
Undo
US immigration lawyer Alen Takhsh said that even without a conviction, an arrest for shoplifting can carry severe immigration consequences. 'This is a Crime Involving Moral Turpitude, one that involves dishonesty and could have serious consequences,' he said earlier.
The advisory comes amid a broader clampdown under President Trump's immigration policy. According to the UN, more than 1.42 lakh individuals have been deported from the US since January. The US has also tightened social media vetting for visa applicants and introduced a sweeping travel ban on several countries, though India remains unaffected by those measures.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Afghan man helped US military against Taliban, almost got a green card. Then, immigration officials came for him
Afghan man helped US military against Taliban, almost got a green card. Then, immigration officials came for him

Indian Express

time23 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Afghan man helped US military against Taliban, almost got a green card. Then, immigration officials came for him

A 35-year-old Afghan translator who aided American troops during the war in Afghanistan has been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Connecticut, in a move that has sparked bipartisan outrage and raised questions about the Trump administration's treatment of wartime allies. Identified as Zia S, the man entered the US legally in October 2024 on a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) and humanitarian parole. He was arrested last week after attending a routine biometrics appointment for his green card in East Hartford, according to his attorney and multiple officials. He is currently being held at a detention facility in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Zia, a father of five, fled Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover in 2021. His visa was part of a US programme meant to protect foreign nationals who risked their lives to support US military operations abroad. 'This is the worst kind of abhorrent violation of basic decency,' said Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) in a statement quoted by The Guardian. 'He actually worked and risked his life in Afghanistan to uphold the values and rights that are central to democracy.' Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, also from Connecticut, said Zia's family had been left in the dark. 'Our credibility is at stake. We have families who have risked everything not just for themselves, but for their entire family … in the name of standing up for the promises of our American democracy,' Hayes told The Guardian. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told Reuters that Zia is under investigation for a 'serious criminal allegation,' though no specifics have been made public. His lawyer, Lauren Petersen, said she has no knowledge of any charges. 'Zia has done everything right. He's followed the rules. He has no criminal history,' she said. 'If he is deported … he faces death.' A federal judge has issued a temporary stay on his deportation, but Zia remains in custody. Zia is the third known Afghan ally to be detained by ICE since Donald Trump returned to office. More than 70,000 Afghans were brought into the US under President Biden's 'Operation Allies Welcome,' but many still face legal limbo. The Trump administration has also moved to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals from countries including Afghanistan, Haiti, and Venezuela, despite ongoing unrest in those regions.

Bryan Kohberger sentence updates: Families of Idaho victims address 'soulless' killer directly; 'You were that foolish'
Bryan Kohberger sentence updates: Families of Idaho victims address 'soulless' killer directly; 'You were that foolish'

Time of India

time37 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Bryan Kohberger sentence updates: Families of Idaho victims address 'soulless' killer directly; 'You were that foolish'

Bryan Kohberger was directly addressed by the family members of the victims he killed. For the first time Wednesday, Bryan Kohberger, who murdered for University of Idahoi students inside their off-campus house in November 2022 in a bone-chilling incident, came face to face with the families of three of the victims -- — Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, and Xana Kernodle, 20 — who are giving impact statements that are expected to last all day. Parents of Ethan Chapin, 20, said they recently found 'big-time closure' and will not attend the sentencing. Kaylee Goncalves' father Steve Goncalves told Kohberger he was so stupid to leave the lazy trail of evidence that he was found to be the culprit within minutes. "You were that foolish, that careless, that stupid," Goncalves said, explaining how police told him Kohberger's DNA was found "within minutes" along with footage of his car arriving and leaving the scene of the crime. "We knew from the very beginning we had you," the father said. The case drew nationwide attention due to its chilling nature and the lengthy, intense investigation that followed. On November 13, 2022, the four students were found fatally stabbed. The crime scene was horrific, and the small college town was left shaken. A month-long investigation led authorities to Kohberger, a 28-year-old PhD criminology student at nearby Washington State University. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Crucial forensic evidence linked Kohberger to the crime. Investigators recovered a knife sheath at the scene with his DNA on it, and used genetic genealogy, comparing DNA from a Q-tip found in his family's trash, to confirm the match. Surveillance footage and cell phone data showed Kohberger's vehicle near the crime scene around the time of the murders. Authorities also noted that he cleaned out his vehicle and apartment meticulously, suggesting a cover-up attempt. Kohberger was arrested at his parents' home in Pennsylvania on December 30, 2022, and extradited to Idaho in early 2023. Kohberger pleaded guilty to the stabbing and already agreed to accept four consecutive life sentences as part of a plea deal that allows him to avoid the death penalty. But after all these years of investigation, the motive of the brutal murder is still not known. It is not known whether Kohberger will speak at the sentencing.

Court issues arrest warrant against former SP & SHO in 2011 custodial assault case
Court issues arrest warrant against former SP & SHO in 2011 custodial assault case

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Court issues arrest warrant against former SP & SHO in 2011 custodial assault case

Bijnor: A local court has issued arrest warrants against two retired police officers for repeatedly skipping hearings in a 2011 custodial assault case involving a former panchayat president's son. Chief judicial magistrate Dr Lucky Singh ordered police to arrest the accused —former SP Uday Pratap, and ex-SHO of Amroha Dehat Sudhir Tomar — and produce them in court by Aug 19. The case pertains to alleged police brutality and extortion involving Vishal Tandon, son of former district panchayat president Shiv Swaroop Tandon. On Aug 12, 2011, police at Amroha Dehat detained Vishal based on a woman's complaint. He was locked up overnight and released on bail the next day. Vishal, a merchant, later filed a court complaint alleging that the then SP and SHO beat him in custody. Vishal said, "They thrashed me in custody, took Rs 3 lakh from me for my release and even snatched my gold chain. " He also alleged that when his father came to the police station to intervene, he too was mistreated. Shiv Swaroop Tandon said, "When I reached the police station to plead for my son, they misbehaved with me too." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like You Won't Believe the Price of These Dubai Apartments Binghatti Developers FZE Get Offer Undo Following the complaint, an FIR was registered under IPC sections 392 (robbery), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), and 506 (criminal intimidation) after court intervention. Despite multiple summons, both officers failed to appear during hearings. The court later issued non-bailable warrants, but no confirmation was received on whether they were served by the rural police station. Vishal died in 2013. Since then, his father has continued pursuing the case. On Tuesday, the CJM viewed the continued absence of the officers as contempt of court and issued arrest warrants. Advocate Matloob Subhani said, "The court has sent a letter to SP Amroha directing him to arrest both officers and present them in court by August 19."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store