Latest news with #U-Visa
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Indian-origin businessman charged with committing visa fraud in U.S.
An Indian-origin businessman and four U.S. law enforcement officials, including three police chiefs, were charged with committing visa fraud in Louisiana. Chandrakant Patel, a resident of Oakdale, along with Chad Doyle, Glynn Dixon, Tebo Onishea, and Michael Slaney, a city marshal, was indicted in Lafayette on Wednesday (July 16). They were charged for creating false crime reports to support visa claims of immigrants under the U.S. government's U visa programme, according to a court document. "The U nonimmigrant status (U visa) is set aside for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse," according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website. Also Read | 'Unscrupulous' agents provide short-term loans to U.S. visa applicants to convince Embassy officials Immigrants contacted Patel to be named as victims in police reports alleging that an armed robbery had occurred, so that they could apply for U visas, the document said. Patel would ask his co-conspirators to write false police reports after charging immigrants thousands of dollars. Patel is the owner of two stores in Louisiana, one in Glenmore and another in Oakdale. He also operated a fast-food restaurant franchise in Oakdale. Patel was himself granted a U-Visa in 2023, based on his alleged status as a victim of armed robbery. The case is being investigated and prosecuted by a Homeland Security Task Force established by President Trump as part of Operation Take Back America, the USCIS said in a press release.
News18
2 days ago
- News18
Indian-origin businessman charged with committing visa fraud in US
Agency: PTI Last Updated: New York, Jul 18 (PTI) An Indian-origin businessman and four US law enforcement officials, including three police chiefs, were charged with committing visa fraud in Louisiana. Chandrakant Patel, a resident of Oakdale, along with Chad Doyle, Glynn Dixon, Tebo Onishea, and Michael Slaney, a city marshal, was indicted in Lafayette on Wednesday. They were charged for creating false crime reports to support visa claims of immigrants under the US government's U visa programme, according to a court document. 'The U nonimmigrant status (U visa) is set aside for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse," according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website. Immigrants contacted Patel to be named as victims in police reports alleging that an armed robbery had occurred, so that they could apply for U visas, the document said. Patel would ask his co-conspirators to write false police reports after charging immigrants thousands of dollars. Patel is the owner of two stores in Louisiana, one in Glenmore and another in Oakdale. He also operated a fast-food restaurant franchise in Oakdale. Patel was himself granted a U-Visa in 2023, based on his alleged status as a victim of armed robbery. The case is being investigated and prosecuted by a Homeland Security Task Force established by President Trump as part of Operation Take Back America, the USCIS said in a press release. PTI RD RD RD view comments First Published: July 18, 2025, 13:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
Apopka family faces deportation following ICE arrest
The Brief Small business owner Esvin Juarez has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Texas, while his wife, Rosmeri Miranda, wears an ankle monitor in Florida. Their children, who are United States citizens, face the possibility of their parents being deported to Guatemala, leaving the eldest daughter to care for her siblings. The family is working with attorney Grisel Ybarra to reopen their immigration case and pursue legal action. APOPKA, Fla. - An Apopka family is facing deportation charges after the father of the family was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The couple's children are United States citizens and say they are deeply affected by the situation. What we know Esvin Juarez is currently being held in a detention facility in Texas by ICE. His wife, Rosmeri Miranda, is under surveillance with an ankle monitor in Florida. The couple's children, including 21-year-old Beverly Juarez, are U.S. citizens and say they are deeply affected by the situation. The family has been in the U.S. for more than 20 years, running a successful concrete business. The backstory Juarez and Miranda said they missed an immigration hearing shortly after arriving in the U.S., resulting in a deportation order issued in absentia. Juarez said he was a victim of assault and has been seeking a U-Visa and a work permit, which would allow him to stay in the U.S. while his application is pending. What they're saying FOX 35's Matt Trezza spoke with Beverly Juarez at the family's Apopka home. Beverly Juarez expressed her fears and stress over potentially having to care for her younger siblings alone if her parents are deported. "They complied every single time, and we had hopes that everything was looking good," she said. "You know, all along the process. And so, I had a lot of shock. But now, all I can do is pray." Trezza also spoke with the family's attorney, Grisel Ybarra, by phone. Ybarra highlighted the family's achievements and contrasted them with the challenges they face under current immigration policies. "They broke through ethnic barriers, language barriers, race barriers and became a success," she said. "In Apopka. In the middle of Florida." What's next The family is working with Ybarra to file a lawsuit in federal court to challenge the deportation order and seek relief. ICE has been contacted for further information on the case, and the family awaits their response. Big picture view Florida has recently implemented a series of laws aimed at cracking down on undocumented immigration, including making it a crime to knowingly enter or attempt to enter the state illegally, and increasing penalties for undocumented immigrants who commit crimes. These measures have been met with concern from some, who fear the potential for widespread arrests and due process violations. Why you should care This story underscores the human impact of immigration policies and the challenges faced by families striving for life in the U.S. amidst legal uncertainties. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information gathered by FOX 35's Matt Trezz in interviews with Beverly Juarez and Attorney Grisel Ybarra.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Undocumented GA student who was wrongfully pulled over says she's working to stay in the U.S.
The 19-year-old undocumented college student who was wrongfully pulled over by Dalton police and then placed into ICE custody spoke at her Atlanta attorney's office on Tuesday. 'I know everything that I'm going through is unjust,' Ximena Arias-Cristabol said. 'Bottom line, she should've never been arrested,' immigration attorney Dustin Baxter said. She spent over two weeks in the Stewart Detention Center. During that time, her story made national headlines as family, friends, immigration activists, and community members pushed for the 19-year-old's release. On Thursday, a federal judge granted Arias-Cristabol bond, and she returned to her Dalton home on Friday night. RELATED STORIES: 'It changed me': Undocumented GA college student talks about being in ICE custody for 15 days Traffic stop lands GA college student in ICE custody 2 weeks after same thing happened to father Georgia college student gets bond at immigration hearing after mistaken arrest ICE still plans to deport Georgia college student arrested after wrongful traffic stop GA student taken into ICE custody after traffic stop pulled over by mistake, police say Marjorie Taylor Greene weighs in on college student facing deportation after wrongful traffic stop Over the weekend, the Dalton police officer who stopped Arias-Cristabol resigned from the department. Now, she says she is working to stay here legally. 'I think going through a U-Visa is best for me,' Arias-Cristabol added. 'A U-Visa is a visa for people who have been victims of crimes and that would stem from the circumstances surrounding her arrest,' Baxter told Channel 2's Audrey Washington. Attorney Joshua McCall, who does not represent Arias-Cristabol, said her case, like many others, is complicated. 'It is extremely difficult and expensive even if you have a path to naturalization, but many of them don't,' McCall said. 'What many people thought was going to happen, which was deporting awful, terrible criminals, has turned into a quota system.' Baxter said he is working to make sure both Arias-Cristabol and her father can stay in the country permanently. He said the immigration process may proceed through 2026 or even 2027. On Tuesday afternoon, Washington asked Arias-Cristobal how she will feel when she is finally a U.S. citizen. 'I will feel great. Like a weight off my chest,' Arias-Cristabol.
India Today
21-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
In big US visa scam, Indian admits to staging robberies across US
As the Trump administration acts to plug the holes that allowed illegal immigrants to stay back in the US, more cases of armed robberies staged to obtain U-visas are coming forward. A New York-based Indian national, Rambhal Patel, has pleaded guilty to staging armed robberies at retail stores across the US to help illegal immigrants exploit the U-visa programme, which offers deportation relief to victims of certain crimes. Since March 2023, Patel and his accomplices staged at least nine robberies across American 37, entered a guilty plea on Tuesday before US District Judge Myong J Joun in Boston to one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. His sentencing has been scheduled for August 20. In December 2023, Patel was charged along with a fake robbery was caught on surveillance cameras. The footage showed a burglar waving a weapon, taking cash, and escaping the scene. The "victims" paid Patel to participate in the scheme. One purported victim paid $20,000 (approximately Rs 17.43 lakh) to Patel for staging one of the armed robberies, according to the PAID FOR ALLOWING STORES FOR STAGED ROBBERIES Even the store owners were complicit in these staged exchange for using their stores, Patel paid the owners for access to the in March 2023, Patel and his alleged co-conspirator set up and carried out at least nine staged robberies at convenience stores and restaurants, with five of them in Massachusetts, according to a statement issued by the US Attorney's Office, District of purpose of the staged robberies was to allow the store clerks, who were living in the US illegally, to claim that they were victims of a violent crime on an application for U non-immigrant status (U-Visa).A U-Visa is available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and who have been helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of criminal U-Visa was introduced in 2000 to encourage undocumented immigrants to report EXPECTED TO PLEAD GUILTY ON MAY 22At least two co-conspirators submitted U-Visa applications based on staged armed Patel was charged in December 2023, his co-conspirator, identified as Singh, is expected to plead guilty on May 22, the statement charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250, a separate case, Fairfield County Police in Connecticut last week charged two Indian nationals for staging a fake robbery in police questioned the shop owner, Birenkumar Patel, in connection with the robbery, he admitted the incident was orchestrated to allow the clerk of his shop, Laxitkumar Patel, to remain in the US by exploiting the U-Visa program, according to the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office statement. It was the clerk who called the police to file a false robbery complaint.
