Indian-origin filmmaker Arafat Sheikh was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) upon arrival at Dulles International Airport on October 7. An advocacy campaign has been launched seeking his release.
Sheikh, a resident of Alexandria, Virginia, was detained by ICE on September 24, according to the 'Free Arafat Sheikh' campaign.
The campaign claimed that Sheikh is in the US on a student visa to pursue film studies at Georgia State University and has a pending immigration application.
ICE, the US agency responsible for enforcing federal immigration laws, can detain non-citizens over suspected immigration violations or while their immigration status or applications are being reviewed.
As reported by Eenadu, incidents like the arrest of an Indian-origin woman in Canada underscore the importance of immigration compliance for Indians abroad.
It is crucial for Telugu students and professionals who have traveled to the US for studies to carefully adhere to immigration regulations, as such detentions can impact their future.
