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