The United States Embassy in India on Monday issued a sharp reminder for Indian travelers, emphasising the consequences of overstaying their visas. The embassy stated, “The United States continues to welcome legitimate travelers to our country. However, there is no right to visit the United States. We cannot and will not tolerate illegal entry, abuse of visas, or the violation of U.S. law.” This comes after a viral video showing a young Indian student being handcuffed and deported at Newark Liberty International Airport. The disturbing footage has ignited widespread outrage and highlighted the impacts of the Trump administration’s intensified immigration crackdown.

A few weeks ago, the US Embassy had already cautioned Indian citizens that overstaying even by a few days could have severe consequences. The advisory noted, “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.” This applies to individuals holding time-bound visas, including work, student, and tourist visas. The US government has repeatedly reiterated that visa conditions must be strictly adhered to, and failure to do so could result in deportation and long-term travel bans.

 

Trump Administration Tightens Immigration Rules

Immigration has remained a central and divisive issue for Donald Trump, who, during his previous presidential terms, signed an executive order targeting the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment, an attempt to revoke automatic citizenship for those born on American soil. Though the order is still under legal scrutiny, enforcement agencies are accelerating deportations, encouraging “self-deportation,” and increasing arrests of undocumented migrants. As per a recent policy update, all foreign nationals staying in the US for over 30 days must now register with federal authorities, intensifying the surveillance of temporary visa holders.

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Indian Deportation Cases Spark Concerns

Recent deportation cases involving Indian nationals have brought the issue into sharper focus. In a widely circulated social media post, Indian-American businessman Kunal Jain recounted a disturbing incident involving a young Indian student being deported from Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey. Jain’s video showed the student, reportedly speaking in Haryanvi, pinned to the ground by Port Authority Police officers. Jain further claimed that similar deportations of Indian students are happening three to four times a day, and the students are returning with no satisfactory explanation or consular help. Indian Deportation Cases before this also sparked outrage:

• Ranjani Srinivasan, a graduate student at Columbia University pursuing a PhD, was said to have had to flee to Canada after her visa was canceled. US officials accused her of taking part in a pro-Palestinian rally the previous year, an accusation she had already denied. 

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• Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown University scholar and son-in-law of a former Hamas aide, was arrested over alleged ties to the group. He was later released after a US court found no substantial evidence linking him to any national security threat.