ATLANTA- On the day after arrival, around 16 Indian students faced deportation at Atlanta airport (ATL) subsequent to their arrival from Delhi (DEL) on a Delta Air Lines (DL) codeshare flight.
These students were in possession of valid F1 visas that permitted them to pursue studies at St. Louis University.
Indian Students Deported from the USA
According to a statement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), they appeared to lack awareness about the specific name of the university they were enrolled in.
Consequently, they were placed on a Delta codeshare flight destined for Delhi. However, upon reaching Delhi, they encountered a predicament as U.S. immigration authorities had neglected to provide them with the necessary deportation documentation.
As per one of the students, she possessed “legitimate documents, including her I-20 and university admission papers.”
Nonetheless, U.S. immigration officers discovered that she had “visa interview preparation questions stored on” her mobile phone.
The officials intensely questioned her regarding the visa-related inquiries stored on her phone. They inquired about the expenses incurred for visa coaching and even asked for the name of the visa interview officer.
Priti expressed her difficulty in recalling the visa interview officer’s name, asking, “How was I supposed to remember what the visa interview officer’s name was?”
Following the interrogation, the officials swiftly conveyed to her that she would be subjected to deportation. She was presented with the option of reaching out to the Indian Embassy for assistance.
However, she received a warning that any falsehoods could result in her potential imprisonment.
Strict Action
Students requested permission to contact their parents, but this request was denied due to their non-minor status. They then sought to communicate with the Indian embassy, hoping that the embassy could get in touch with their parents.
However, they were informed that the local embassy had already concluded its operations for the day. Eventually, after a span of eight hours, they found themselves on a flight back.
The U.S. immigration process is characterized by bureaucracy and unpredictability. Current posted waiting times can extend beyond two years, even for transit in certain locations.
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