First, they were duped by the Tri Valley University in California. Then,
many of them were forced to wear radio collars around their ankles so
that the authorities could keep track of their movements.
Since the collars, fitted with GPS technology, are used to follow
suspects and criminals on parole, India has asked the US authorities to remove these “unwarranted monitors” and treat the students fairly.
Minister for overseas Indian affairs Vayalar Ravi said on Saturday
that the students were unaware of the fact that the university had no
registration.
“We requested the US state department to take a lenient view because
the students are innocent,” he said, adding that there were now enough
pointers to establish that the students were victims of no major fault
of theirs.
Vishnu Prakash, external affairs ministry spokesperson, said, “We
have conveyed to the US authorities that using collars to monitor a
group of students, who were detained and later released, is unwarranted.
The devices should be removed.”
A large number of Indian students had got transferred to Tri Valley
from other US universities, besides about 100 who had obtained visas in
India to enroll in the university after taking the required
authorisation.
Prakash said the students should be given the opportunity to clarify
their position. “Those who wish to return to India should be allowed to
do so voluntarily.”
New Delhi has asked Washington for information on the students and a
report on the investigation and action taken against the promoters of
the university.
So far, the principal investigator has provided the Indian consulate
in San Francisco a list of immigration attorneys, who are prepared to
guide or advise the students free of charge.
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) proposes to post a
detailed advisory for all Tri Valley students on its website sometime
next week.
Some 1,555 students of Tri-Valley University, 90% of them from India,
mostly Andhra Pradesh, face the prospect of deportation following the
closure of the university in Pleasanton on charges of selling student
visas.
Some of the students who approached Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) to seek help were placed under ISAP (Intense
Supervision and Appearance Programme) and put in removal proceedings.
A number of students have already been interviewed by ICE agents,
most have been questioned and released but a few have been required to
wear ankle bracelets, Jayaram Komati of the Telugu Association of North
America (TANA) told IANS.
Throughout Saturday, Indian television channels had displaying
visuals of Indian students with radio trackers around one ankle, which
was apparently done to monitor their movements.
India protested the measure.
"We have conveyed to the US authorities that the students, most of
who are victims themselves, must be treated fairly and reasonably, and
that the use of monitors on a group of students, who were detained and
later released with monitors in accordance with US laws, is unwarranted
and should be removed," said Indian external affairs ministry spokesman
Vishnu Prakash in New Delhi.
US Deputy Chief of Mission Donald Lu was called to the external ministry and apprised of India's concerns over the measure.
Prakash said that MEA and Indian consulate general in San Francisco
are in touch with the Indian students and US authorities, adding that
"everything possible" will be done to safeguard the students'
"legitimate interests".
"The students should be given ample opportunity to clarify their
position and present their case; those who wish to return to India
should be allowed to do so voluntarily; those students who have not
violated any visa or immigration laws should be given opportunity to
adjust their status; and, those who are eligible to seek transfer to
other universities should be given adequate opportunity and time to do
so," he said.
The Indian community in the US has expressed shock and anger over the measure.
"It is very unfortunate that the students of the Tri Valley are being
treated like criminals for none of their fault," Ramesh Annamreddy,
another prominent community leader, said.
"Telugu community in North America is deeply disturbed", over the
development, said North America Telugu Society (NATS) president Ravi
Madala.
Requesting US Citizenship and Immigration Services to resolve this
issue immediately, Madala said, NATS will fight to protect the rights of
Indian students and is also working with the Indian external affairs
ministry to resolve the issue.
Overseas Friends of Bharatiya Janata Party (OFBJP) demanded immediate
intervention of Indian government asking it to "provide immediate
alternative arrangements for all these displaced students of Tri Valley
to complete their studies at no additional cost to them".
“It is a another big diplomatic failure of Indian government and the
result is the suffering of Indian students at the hands of US Department
of Homeland Security," said OFBJP President Adapa Prasad.
Meanwhile, Komati, whose organisation has some 35,000 members also
advised students attending Tri-Valley University to seek immigration
advice from an immigration attorney.
"Ultimately, we want to protect the kids within the boundaries of the
law," he said. "They are not here to break the law. This is no fault of
the students. It is the university not living up to the norms of
society."
Expressing shock at the news, North American Telugu Association
(NATA) A.V.N. Reddy said his organisation is is determined to make every
effort in helping students of Telugu community in their legal needs.
It has also organised a conference call for students at 12.00 p.m.
Sunday with immigration attorney Rajiv S. Khanna of immigration.com to
understand the students grievances and guide them on the immigration
issues.
NATA is also planning to arrange counselling through Patrick Papallia
who is specialist on civil litigation and business law, a partner at
Herten & Burstien.
Meanwhile, the US authorities have opened a helpline for the Indian
students. "We have set up an email address and voicemail that Tri-Valley
students can use to contact ICE Homeland Security Investigations
directly with their questions," Lari K Haley, Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) spokesperson said.
Haley said any affected student can call the US number 415-844-5320
and leave the voice message. An ICE representative will return the call,
she said. Students can also write to
'SFRHSIFraud@dhs.gov', seeking help.
India has also asked US authorities for provide full information
about the students and keep it in the loop about investigations and
prosecution against the Tri-Valley University.
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