Latest news with #U-Visa
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.
India Today
21-05-2025
- India Today
A fake robbery in US, American visa and an illegal Indian immigrant
A probe by the Fairfield County Police in Connecticut revealed that an armed robbery had, in fact, been staged by a shop owner to help his clerk, an illegal immigrant from India, stay back in the US. The shop owner, Birenkumar Patel, planned to exploit the U-Visa programme, which offers deportation relief to victims of certain March 9, the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office responded to a reported robbery at Monticello EZ Mart at 3888 State days later, after questioning, the shop owner, Birenkumar Patel, admitted the incident was orchestrated to allow the clerk, 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, Laxitkumar Patel, who called the police to file a false robbery complaint, thus getting formally involved in a criminal reported that $379 (approximately Rs 31,553) was stolen by a masked suspect who brandished an object presented as a firearm, local TV news channel, WACH FOX 57, WAS STAGED: POLICE INVESTIGATIONA thorough investigation by the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office concluded that the robbery had been U-Visa is a special non-immigrant visa in the US designed for victims of certain serious crimes who have endured significant mental or physical abuse and are willing to cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of those U-Visa was introduced in 2000 to encourage undocumented immigrants to report to officials, the clerk, Laxitkumar Patel, entered the US illegally last year in September and faced an immigration hearing in March has been charged with criminal conspiracy, while Laxitkumar Patel faces charges of filing a false police report and criminal conspiracy. He is also under a federal hold due to his undocumented immigration status, Fox 57 County has since referred the case to the Department of Homeland County Sheriff Will Montgomery criticised the individuals involved, stating that this case—like other false reports—diverts vital law enforcement resources that could otherwise be used to assist genuine InMust Watch
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Woman sues immigration lawyer, saying he tried to start relationship
A woman who alleged a high-profile Merrillville immigration lawyer tried to start a sexual relationship sued him Friday, records show. The civil lawsuit — in Lake Superior Court in Crown Point, Ind. — names Alfredo Estrada and his law firm, Burke Costanza & Carberry. Estrada was not immediately available for comment. The lawsuit asks for unspecified damages and to cover her legal bills, according to the complaint filed Monday. Most of the allegations came to light earlier in his state disciplinary case filed in March. The woman, then 15, first met Estrada in July 2018 as her father was applying for a U-Visa, which gives crime victims a path to apply for permanent residency after three years if they cooperate with police. The girl translated for her father. In 2021, she retained Estrada as she tried to see if she qualified for the DACA — or 'dreamers' — program, which allowed people brought as children to the U.S. to get legal safeguards. Months later, Estrada told her she didn't qualify — leaving her stuck and unable to legally work. He started asking 'intrusive and personal' questions, including if she had a boyfriend. In 2022, after she returned a call for her father, Estrada told her to go to his office on his behalf. During the meeting, she attended with another relative, he offered to pay her 'under the table' as a translator. In January 2023, he invited her out to eat. 'If I remember correctly, you are married,' she responded two days later. She declined all his job offers, including one to travel with him as a translator. The woman felt if she cut him off, it would 'endanger' her family's immigration case. She told Estrada she was uncomfortable with his offers. 'My wife doesn't mind as long as I don't bring it home,' he responded. Later, he offered her work to clean his office or home, which she rejected. Estrada gave her money that was unrelated to the immigration case. He viewed her social media, sending back screenshots of her TikTok account. 'I thought you were shy? Lol,' he wrote. After she posted about going to a concert in May 2023 on Instagram, he called her. By then, she downloaded a call recording app. 'I wanna get together. I wanna skip the games, if you know what I mean…I'll take care of you. You take care of me,' he said. What do you want from me, she asked. 'Everything…I wanna (have sex), you're fine …I want to have a relationship,' Estrada responded. No, she said. 'I wanna be your sugar daddy,' he said. 'I wouldn't mind being that.' Shortly after, he left a voicemail, saying he got work authorization for her and her father. Estrada continued to send messages in May 2023, saying he would get her 'a job in Gary at a taco joint' or as a translator in his law firm. The woman didn't respond. She told a relative, who told his own immigration lawyer. She fired Estrada in June 2023. Later, she and the other lawyer met with a U.S. Attorney and U.S. Homeland Security Special Investigations to see if she qualified for a T-visa, for sex trafficking victims. While the prosecutor said she probably didn't qualify for that visa and likely couldn't charge it as sex trafficking, they found her account 'wholly credible.' The woman had a profoundly 'unstable legal and financial situation' and Estrada 'deliberately took advantage' of it, the lawsuit alleges. Estrada knew another relative had been attacked in their home county and they were vulnerable and fearful. His behavior was 'outrageous,' the lawsuit alleged. She is represented by high-profile lawyer Walter Alvarez. mcolias@
Chicago Tribune
06-05-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Woman sues immigration lawyer, saying he tried to start relationship
A woman who alleged a high-profile Merrillville immigration lawyer tried to start a sexual relationship sued him Friday, records show. The civil lawsuit — in Lake Superior Court in Crown Point, Ind. — names Alfredo Estrada and his law firm, Burke Costanza & Carberry. Estrada was not immediately available for comment. The lawsuit asks for unspecified damages and to cover her legal bills, according to the complaint filed Monday. Most of the allegations came to light earlier in his state disciplinary case filed in March. The woman, then 15, first met Estrada in July 2018 as her father was applying for a U-Visa, which gives crime victims a path to apply for permanent residency after three years if they cooperate with police. The girl translated for her father. In 2021, she retained Estrada as she tried to see if she qualified for the DACA — or 'dreamers' — program, which allowed people brought as children to the U.S. to get legal safeguards. Months later, Estrada told her she didn't qualify — leaving her stuck and unable to legally work. He started asking 'intrusive and personal' questions, including if she had a boyfriend. In 2022, after she returned a call for her father, Estrada told her to go to his office on his behalf. During the meeting, she attended with another relative, he offered to pay her 'under the table' as a translator. In January 2023, he invited her out to eat. 'If I remember correctly, you are married,' she responded two days later. She declined all his job offers, including one to travel with him as a translator. The woman felt if she cut him off, it would 'endanger' her family's immigration case. She told Estrada she was uncomfortable with his offers. 'My wife doesn't mind as long as I don't bring it home,' he responded. Later, he offered her work to clean his office or home, which she rejected. Estrada gave her money that was unrelated to the immigration case. He viewed her social media, sending back screenshots of her TikTok account. 'I thought you were shy? Lol,' he wrote. After she posted about going to a concert in May 2023 on Instagram, he called her. By then, she downloaded a call recording app. 'I wanna get together. I wanna skip the games, if you know what I mean…I'll take care of you. You take care of me,' he said. What do you want from me, she asked. 'Everything…I wanna (have sex), you're fine …I want to have a relationship,' Estrada responded. No, she said. 'I wanna be your sugar daddy,' he said. 'I wouldn't mind being that.' Shortly after, he left a voicemail, saying he got work authorization for her and her father. Estrada continued to send messages in May 2023, saying he would get her 'a job in Gary at a taco joint' or as a translator in his law firm. The woman didn't respond. She told a relative, who told his own immigration lawyer. She fired Estrada in June 2023. Later, she and the other lawyer met with a U.S. Attorney and U.S. Homeland Security Special Investigations to see if she qualified for a T-visa, for sex trafficking victims. While the prosecutor said she probably didn't qualify for that visa and likely couldn't charge it as sex trafficking, they found her account 'wholly credible.' The woman had a profoundly 'unstable legal and financial situation' and Estrada 'deliberately took advantage' of it, the lawsuit alleges. Estrada knew another relative had been attacked in their home county and they were vulnerable and fearful. His behavior was 'outrageous,' the lawsuit alleged. She is represented by high-profile lawyer Walter Alvarez.
