ICE Now Targets Indian Students With Part-time Jobs?

After US President Donald Trump returned to office for the second term in January last year, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been tracking and arresting undocumented criminals for serious offences.

Though ICE initially focused on individuals convicted of crimes including sexual assault of a minor, domestic violence, drug offences and human smuggling, the target seems to have now shifted towards students who are doing part-time jobs illegally. The move might put Indian students at risk in particular. 

As per the latest reports, two Indian students have been taken into custody by ICE officers. Both students were employed at an Indian restaurant in St. Louis Park in Minnesota. Though the identity of the detained individuals was not known immediately, it is believed that they were arrested directly from the workplace. 

Every year, lakhs of Indians students head to USA for higher education. Especially those on F1 student visa generally take up part time jobs in USA to earn for their living and daily expenses while continuing their education. Though it is illegal to work beyond prescribed hours off campus, students work at restaurants and hotels to survive in USA. 

But, after Trump took charge in January last year, there has been an increased scrutiny of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE). Thousands of arrests were made in the last one year including many Indians. 

ICE agents are frequently conducting raids and detaining individuals who are illegally living in USA and also those who are convicted in cases. With Indian students also coming under the scanner of ICE, experts are advising them not to take up part-time jobs illegally and face the risk of getting arrested and deported from the country.