Latest news with #U-visas
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Immigration agents arrest Milwaukee man after he drops off child at school
A father of three was arrested by immigration agents the morning of May 22 shortly after dropping off his daughter at school in Milwaukee's south side, according to the man's attorney. Immigration attorney Kime Abduli said her client, whom she declined to name publicly, was arrested around South 9th Street and West National Avenue. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel agreed not to publish the man's name to avoid identifying his family members. The arrest, near a school, is unusual. Under previous administrations, immigration officers were told not to arrest people at sensitive locations like schools, hospitals and churches. The Trump administration reversed that guidance in January. 'Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America's schools and churches to avoid arrest,' the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement at the time. According to Abduli, her client has been in the U.S. for at least 25 years and had recently applied for a U-visa. U-visas allow undocumented victims of certain crimes to stay in the U.S. for up to four years if they agree to help law enforcement in the investigation of the crime. The perpetrator was found with her client's help, Abduli said. However, Abduli said her client has yet to receive an update on his application for the visa. "This is proof that immigrants help keep communities safe," Abduli said. "Because when they feel safe enough to do so, they report crimes to the authorities." U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement declined to comment on the arrest. The incident comes amid the Trump administration's nationwide immigration crackdown and after multiple high-profile ICE arrests at the Milwaukee County Courthouse, including one that led to federal charges against a county judge. Advocates oppose the arrest of undocumented immigrants at schools and hospitals, arguing that it is preventing immigrants and their families from going to school and seeking medical attention. Abduli said she is disheartened by the administration's portrayal of immigrants as criminals. Research shows that immigrants, including those who are in the U.S. without authorization, have lower crime rates than U.S. citizens. Her client is from Mexico and his children are U.S. citizens, she said. He is being detained at Dodge Detention Facility. Eva Wen is a reporter with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Reach her at qwen@ This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Immigration agents arrest Milwaukee man after he drops off child at school
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Immigration agents arrest Milwaukee man after he drops off child at school, attorney says
A father of three was arrested by immigration agents the morning of May 22 shortly after dropping off his daughter at school in Milwaukee's south side, according to the man's attorney. Immigration attorney Kime Abduli said her client, whom she declined to name publicly, was arrested around South 9th Street and West National Avenue. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel agreed not to publish the man's name to avoid identifying his family members. The arrest, near a school, is unusual. Under previous administrations, immigration officers were told not to arrest people at sensitive locations like schools, hospitals and churches. The Trump administration reversed that guidance in January. 'Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America's schools and churches to avoid arrest,' the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement at the time. According to Abduli, her client has been in the U.S. for at least 25 years and had recently applied for a U-visa. U-visas allow undocumented victims of certain crimes to stay in the U.S. for up to four years if they agree to help law enforcement in the investigation of the crime. The perpetrator was found with her client's help, Abduli said. However, Abduli said her client has yet to receive an update on his application for the visa. "This is proof that immigrants help keep communities safe," Abduli said. "Because when they feel safe enough to do so, they report crimes to the authorities." U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement declined to comment on the arrest. The incident comes amid the Trump administration's nationwide immigration crackdown and after multiple high-profile ICE arrests at the Milwaukee County Courthouse, including one that led to federal charges against a county judge. Advocates oppose the arrest of undocumented immigrants at schools and hospitals, arguing that it is preventing immigrants and their families from going to school and seeking medical attention. Abduli said she is disheartened by the administration's portrayal of immigrants as criminals. Research shows that immigrants, including those who are in the U.S. without authorization, have lower crime rates than U.S. citizens. Her client is from Mexico and his children are U.S. citizens, she said. He is being detained at Dodge Detention Facility. Eva Wen is a reporter with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Reach her at qwen@ This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Immigration agents arrest Milwaukee man after school drop-off, attorney says
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.
