US immigration authorities have taken into custody an Indian national accused of multiple crimes, including sexual assault of a minor. According to a post shared on social media by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Bhodela Yasashvi Kottapalli is charged with sexual assault of a child under 13, shoplifting and public disorder.
Bhodela Yasaswi Kottapalli was detained by ICEKottapalli was staying in the US illegally. The ICE post described him as a “criminal illegal alien from India”.
Detained Indian
“Bhodela Yasaswi Kottapalli, a criminal illegal alien from India, has sexual assault and robbery charges pending in New Jersey,” ICE announced after announcing charges against Kottapalli, which include shoplifting, public disorder and sexual assault of a child under 13.
The agency shared a photo of an Indian man with the words “child rapist” written above.
In its post, ICE said Kottapalli will remain in custody while immigration authorities begin removal proceedings against him. “We will keep him in custody pending removal proceedings,” the agency said, adding that he would not be released pending deportation-related legal proceedings.
What is the removal process for illegal immigrants in the United States?Removal proceedings are the formal legal action by which a US immigration court determines whether a foreign national should be deported from the country. Individuals are often detained during this period, particularly in cases involving serious criminal charges.
ICE did not provide further details on the status of the criminal case or a timeline for the removal process. Charges are pending and no convictions have yet been filed.
Immigration crackdown in the United StatesDonald Trump has made the nation’s immigration enforcement a centerpiece of his 2024 campaign for the White House, and he has promised to be aggressive in detaining and deporting people living in the White House. United States without legal permission.
The Department of Homeland Security reported that it had deported more than 675,000 immigrants since Trump returned to office last year and claimed that the Republican president had “self-deported” about 2.2 million others as he prioritized his immigration crackdown.
(with input from AFP)
