Eminent Indian-Americans and some of the Media outlets questioned the modus Operandi of US Government in the arrests of 129 students in “pay and Stay” Visa Scam in a Fake University.
They termed it as “trapping of innocent students is a Crime, illegal and immoral.”
129 Indian students among 130 were detained by US Department of Homeland Security for enrolling in a fake University called University of Farmington.
It was set up by Investigation Department to bust the racket.
Dr Raghava Reddy Ghosala, president of North American Telugu Association told to PTI that “ Trapping of innocent students like this is a crime .This is illegal and immoral.”
He said he is been with students arrested by US ICE as part of crackdown on the “Pay and Stay” University Visa Scam.
“As per our inquiry, it looks like they have set up the trap,”Ghosala said.
He further added “ I heard from Victims. One of the victims even went to India and came back without any problem.”
He said, “He did not get arrested then. Now he is leaving the US for good on Monday. Such a modus Operandi is illegal and is a wrong thing to do.”
Amer Zahr, a Professor of Law at the University of Detroit Mercy, told the WXYZ Detroit news, “It seems the government was really involved in tricking students into violating the terms of their of their visas.”
Russell Abrutyn, an attorney told WXYZ Detroit that “the government took money from the innocent people under false pretences.”
“Once they are out of this money, they do not have a support network, to say, here is another USD 5,000 or USD 15,000 go to another school. Some were stuck in this situation,” Abrutyn said.
Community leader Sridhar Nagireddy told PTI that “What’s the reason for putting up a fake university. What they are trying to show to the world.”
A large number of Indian-American communities have come together to help the students in need, he said, adding that “ about half a dozen law firms and attorneys have offered their free legal services to the students.”
“Undercover operations are misleading and some Students believed they are enrolling in legitimate programme” Ravi Mannam, an immigration lawyer said in an interview to The New York Times.
“The government utilised very questionable and troubling methods to get these foreign students to join the institution,” Mannam told the NYT.
Satish Manduva, a global advisor for Andhra Pradesh State Non-Resident Telugu Society, said “It is really unfortunate to see what has happened to the Indian students.”
According to Manduva, who is organising legal help to the students, said that many of the Indian students are ready to go back to India.
“They entered the country legally. They did not know that they were being trapped by the US government itself,” he said.
Meanwhile, Indian Embassy opened 24/7 helpline for these students who were detained.
-Sai Kumar
