Latest news with #AlienRegistrationAct
Time of India
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
1,080 Indians deported from US since January, confirms MEA
NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs on Thursday confirmed that 1,080 Indian nationals have been deported from the United States since January 2025, with 62 per cent of them returning on commercial flights. 'We have close cooperation between India and the United States on migration issues, particularly on the deportation of Indian nationals who are in illegal status there or who travelled illegally,' MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a weekly briefing. 'We take them back once we receive details about them.' The update comes amid rising concerns over changes to US visa policies under the Trump administration. A cable obtained by Politico revealed that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered embassies to halt new student visa interviews as stricter social media vetting rules are being prepared. This directive applies to all F, M, and J category visa appointments. While the cable reportedly makes reference to executive orders on counterterrorism and antisemitism, it does not specify the criteria for evaluating applicants' online presence. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bolsas nos olhos? (Tente isso hoje à noite) Revista Saúde & Beleza Saiba Mais Undo However, it signals a broader tightening of procedures that could affect thousands of Indian students seeking to study in the United States. The MEA said it had noted reports of these new developments and emphasised that the welfare of Indian students remains 'supreme' for the government. 'We look at all developments regarding visas strictly. Visa issuance is a sovereign function, but we hope applications of Indian students will be assessed on merit so they can join their academic programmes on time,' Jaiswal said. According to MEA data, around 333,000 Indian students went to the US for higher education in 2023–24. Meanwhile, the US Embassy in India recently issued a warning on social media, stating that those who overstay their authorised period in the US risk deportation or even a permanent ban. Additionally, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has reiterated that all foreign nationals staying in the US for over 30 days must register under the Alien Registration Act, a requirement now being strictly enforced following an executive order signed by President Trump earlier this year.
Forbes
19-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
New DOJ Whistleblower Policy Bad News For Employers Of Immigrants And H-1B Visa Holders
A seal for the Department of Justice is seen on a podium on March 21, 2024. Under a new policy, the ... More Justice Department will prioritize whistleblower tips about employers accused of violating federal immigration law. (Photo by) Under a new policy, the Justice Department will prioritize whistleblower tips about employers accused of violating federal immigration law. The policy would allow the DOJ to expand efforts to prosecute employers of immigrants and H-1B visa holders. A Department of Justice memo issued in February 2025 directed federal prosecutors to prioritize immigration-related cases. The new whistleblower policy confirms that the Trump administration's top issue remains immigration enforcement. Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the criminal division at the Department of Justice, announced an expansion of the DOJ's whistleblower program to include immigration and other areas. 'We have made changes to our corporate whistleblower program to reflect our focus on the worst actors and most egregious crimes,' Galeotti told attendees at the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association's Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Crimes Conference on May 12, 2025. 'To do this, I asked MLARS [Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section] and Fraud to review the corporate whistleblower awards pilot program and recommend additional areas of focus reflecting the Administration's priorities.' 'Today, we have added the following priority areas for tips: procurement and federal program fraud; trade, tariff, and customs fraud; violations of federal immigration law; and violations involving sanctions, material support of foreign terrorist organizations, or those that facilitate cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations, including money laundering, narcotics, and Controlled Substances Act violations,' said Galeotti. (Emphasis added.) He noted, 'As with every other area in our program, these tips must result in forfeiture to be eligible for an award.' On February 5, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memo informing Justice Department employees that 'immigration enforcement' tops the DOJ's list of prosecution priorities. 'The Department of Justice shall use all available criminal statutes to combat the flood of illegal immigration that took place over the last four years, and to continue to support the Department of Homeland Security's immigration and removal initiatives,' according to the memo. She singled out prosecutions for violating the Alien Registration Act and 'bringing in and harboring aliens,' a provision that authorities have not used extensively against employers. The memo noted that failing to pursue immigration-related cases could have consequences for DOJ attorneys. 'Any declinations of immigration-related offenses shall be disclosed as Urgent Reports . . . On a quarterly basis, each U.S. Attorney's Office shall report statistics to the Executive Office for United States Attorneys.' U.S. attorneys have received the message. On April 11, 2025, a press release in Texas was headlined: 'U.S. Attorney's Office Adds 295 New Immigration Cases in One Week.' According to the release, 'Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 295 immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from April 4 through April 10.' The press release states: 'These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration . . .' The priorities of other law enforcement personnel also have changed. 'FBI field offices around the country have been ordered to assign significantly more agents to immigration enforcement, a dramatic shift in federal law enforcement priorities that will likely siphon resources away from counterterrorism, counterintelligence and fraud investigations,' reports NBC News. Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Kash Patel (L) and U.S. Attorney General Pam ... More Bondi speak during a press conference to announce the results of Operation Restore Justice on May 07, 2025. (Photo by) U.S. employers may not appreciate the potential impact of the Justice Department's new focus. 'Employers do not appear to grasp the depth and breadth of options DOJ and DHS may have to bring enforcement actions,' said Chris Thomas, a partner with Holland & Hart. 'Though these agencies have shown restraint in the types of criminal cases they have brought in the past, employers should not make the mistake of assuming prior enforcement activity will serve as any indication of what may be coming.' Thomas notes that being raided and hit with criminal charges can debilitate business operations and result in long-term reputational damage. Criminal exposure can include prison terms of up to 10 years per count, fines of up to $500,000 per count and forfeiture of assets. The Department of Justice's Criminal Division operated a Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program that compensated individuals who provided 'original and truthful information about corporate misconduct that results in a successful forfeiture.' Until the recent expansion, the whistleblower information needed to relate to '(1) certain crimes involving financial institutions, from traditional banks to cryptocurrency businesses; (2) foreign corruption involving misconduct by companies; (3) domestic corruption involving misconduct by companies; or (4) health care fraud schemes involving private insurance plans.' DOJ can apply the new whistleblower policy against employers of H-1B visa holders and other highly skilled foreign-born professionals. 'It can be and will be used against H-1B employers, along with potentially companies employing L-1, O-1 and TN visa holders,' said Thomas. 'If anybody blew the whistle for an employer knowingly offering false information, charges could be brought. We have even seen DOJ prosecute employers that provide misleading invitation letters for business visitors, such B-1 or ESTA [Electronic System for Travel Authorization], claiming that they are coming for meetings, when they are coming to engage in work.' In recent weeks, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has issued Requests for Evidence for H-1B and employment-based immigrant petitions, claiming to have 'adverse information' on individuals. Those actions appear focused on specific employees rather than companies. For the past four months, the Trump administration has laid the groundwork to pursue new criminal priorities likely to affect employers of immigrants and temporary visa holders. 'As the rhetoric translates into significant raids and criminal charges, employers will be forced to take compliance much more seriously,' said Chris Thomas. 'At that point, however, it may be too late.'
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
U.S. Embassy in India warns people staying beyond their authorised period to face deportation or ban on travelling to U.S.
The U.S. Embassy in India on Saturday (May 17, 2025) warned that people who stay in the U.S. beyond their authorised period of stay will face deportation or a permanent ban on travelling to the U.S. in the future. In a post shared on X, the U.S. Embassy in India stated, 'If you remain in the United States beyond your authorized period of stay, you could be deported and could face a permanent ban on traveling to the United States in the future.' If you remain in the United States beyond your authorized period of stay, you could be deported and could face a permanent ban on traveling to the United States in the future. — U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) May 17, 2025 On Friday, a Federal Appeals court refused to allow the Trump administration to restart deporting migrants to nations other than their own without prior notice or the opportunity to seek protection from persecution or torture, CNN reported. The U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Trump administration's request to block a lower court decision halting the policy. The court's decision comes amid rising concerns over reported plans to send migrants to Libya, a country criticised for the mistreatment of detainees and ongoing civil unrest. The appellate panel voiced several 'concerns' about letting the government resume the policy, among them 'the irreparable harm that will result from wrongful removals in this context.' Earlier in March, the U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy stopped the Trump administration from deporting migrants to nations other than their own without prior written notice and a chance to contest the removal from the U.S., CNN reported. Earlier in April, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reminded all foreign nationals present in the country for over 30 days that the deadline to register under the Alien Registration Act is April 11. The law requires all foreign nationals in the United States for more than 30 days to register with the federal government. Failure to register is considered a crime, punishable by fines, imprisonment, or both. Kristi Noem said, 'President Trump and I have a clear message for those in our country illegally: leave now. If you leave now, you may have the opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American dream.' 'The Trump administration will enforce all our immigration laws--we will not pick and choose which laws we will enforce. We must know who is in our country for the safety and security of our homeland and all Americans,' she added. On January 20, U.S. President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, directing the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to restore order and accountability to the immigration system. This includes implementing the Alien Registration Act.
India Today
17-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Permanent ban, deportation: US issues stern warning to foreigners overstaying visas
The US Embassy in India on Saturday issued a warning to travellers about the serious consequences of staying in the United States beyond the allowed time on their Saturday, the embassy posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying, "If you remain in the United States beyond your authorised period of stay, you could be deported and could face a permanent ban on travelling to the United States in the future." advertisementThe allowed duration of stay is normally indicated on the I-94 form, a document presented to visitors when entering the US. It indicates the duration for which an individual is permitted in the country. The embassy indicated that even a brief overstay can have severe legal repercussions, which could shatter long-term aspirations of studying, working, or joining family members in the who are facing delays and are unable to depart on schedule, the embassy recommended that they call the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as soon as possible to seek legal ways to extend their stay without BLOCKS TRUMP-ERA DEPORTATION RULEA federal appeals court has recently halted the Trump-era rule that permitted the US to deport migrants to other nations besides their home without warning or the opportunity to request protection against persecution or torture, CNN US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also reminded all foreign nationals who have spent over 30 days in the US that they are required to register under the Alien Registration Act by April 11. Foreign nationals who are here for longer than a month are bound to register with the federal government under this law. Not registering is a criminal offence and can lead to being fined, imprisoned, or both.H-1B VISA REGISTRATIONS DROPMeanwhile, recent USCIS data shows that there has been a 27% reduction in H-1B work visa registrations for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. USCIS had 343,981 eligible registrations, a considerable drop from 470,342 registrations for FY fall is believed to be linked to a sharp rise in application fees. With new regulations by the Biden Administration, the filing fee for an H-1B registration rose from $10 to $215.
India Gazette
17-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
US warns people staying beyond their authorised period to face deportation or ban on travelling to US
New Delhi [India], May 17 (ANI): The US Embassy in India on Saturday warned that people who stay in the US beyond their authorised period of stay will face deportation or a permanent ban on travelling to the US in the future. In a post shared on X, the US Embassy in India stated, 'If you remain in the United States beyond your authorized period of stay, you could be deported and could face a permanent ban on traveling to the United States in the future.' On Friday, a federal appeals court refused to allow the Trump administration to restart deporting migrants to nations other than their own without prior notice or the opportunity to seek protection from persecution or torture, CNN reported. The US First Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Trump administration's request to block a lower court decision halting the policy. The court's decision comes amid rising concerns over reported plans to send migrants to Libya, a country criticised for the mistreatment of detainees and ongoing civil unrest. The appellate panel voiced several 'concerns' about letting the government resume the policy, among them 'the irreparable harm that will result from wrongful removals in this context.' Earlier in March, the US District Judge Brian Murphy stopped the Trump administration from deporting migrants to nations other than their own without prior written notice and a chance to contest the removal from the US, CNN reported. Earlier in April, US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reminded all foreign nationals present in the country for over 30 days that the deadline to register under the Alien Registration Act is April 11. The law requires all foreign nationals in the United States for more than 30 days to register with the federal government. Failure to register is considered a crime, punishable by fines, imprisonment, or both. Kristi Noem said, 'President Trump and I have a clear message for those in our country illegally: leave now. If you leave now, you may have the opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American dream.' 'The Trump administration will enforce all our immigration laws--we will not pick and choose which laws we will enforce. We must know who is in our country for the safety and security of our homeland and all Americans,' she added. On January 20, US President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, directing the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to restore order and accountability to the immigration system. This includes implementing the Alien Registration Act. (ANI)
