Indians among 100 people apprehended in US for violating immigration laws

In a five-day enforcement action, the US border patrol and immigration officials have detained over 100 people, including some Indians, for violating US immigration laws and living in the country.

Those arrested during the operation included nationals from Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina, Cuba, Nigeria, India, Chile and Turkey, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) said in a statement.

However, the agency did not give the total number of Indians arrested while it stated that 45 people were arrested in Houston. Earlier, around 100 Indians were detained at two immigration detention centres for illegally entering the US through its southern border.

The enforcement operation targeted at-large criminal aliens, many of whom evaded the prior immigration proceedings, ICE said. It said some of the individuals arrested during the operation will face federal criminal prosecution for illegal entry and illegal re-entry after deportation.

President Donald Trump had reversed his controversial decision on immigration by signing an executive order to end the separation of immigrant families on the US-Mexico border, following widespread protests against the move of his administration to separate children from their parents who illegally enter the country.

Arrestees who are not being federally prosecuted will be detained in ICE custody and administratively processed for removal from the US, the statement said.

(With inputs from agencies)