Feds probe Calif. 'sham university' for visa fraud

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Feds probe Calif. 'sham university' for visa fraud

By TERENCE CHEA, Associated Press Terence Chea, Associated Press – Tue Feb 1,

1:46 am ET

SAN FRANCISCO – The government of India is urging the United States to show

leniency toward Indian students who were enrolled at a " sham university " in

California that U.S. authorities say was a front for illegal immigration.

The U.S. attorney's office alleges the owner of Tri-Valley University in

Pleasanton used the unaccredited school to charge foreigners millions of dollars

in tuition fees and help them obtain student visas to stay in the U.S.

Officials at Tri-Valley did not immediately respond to a request for comment

Monday.

There were 1,555 students enrolled at Tri-Valley last fall and about 95 percent

of them were from India, according to a complaint filed Jan. 19 in U.S. District

Court in San Francisco.

Many of those students, who took Tri-Valley courses online, could be deported if

they are found to be in violation of their immigration status.

Indian officials say the students are being " treated like criminals " by U.S.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents even though they were issued valid

U.S. visas by American consular officials in India.

" I don't think any of them had any idea this was a sham university, " said

Susmita Gongulee , consul general of India in San Francisco. " I don't

think any of them had the motivation to defraud any rules of the U.S. government

.... These students came here genuinely to improve their prospects and they

should not be criminalized or victimized. "

Students told Indian consulate officials that they were searched, treated rudely

and handcuffed before being taken into immigration offices for questioning,

said.

Many have been forced to wear ankle bracelets to track their movements with

radio frequency signals, and they must report to immigration officials regularly

while they go through deportation proceedings, Gongulee said.

Indian officials are asking the U.S. government to stop requiring the students

to wear the ankle monitors.

" They felt threatened and intimidated by the ICE officials, " said. " We in

India do not treat anyone other than criminals with anything that resembles

ankle bracelets or handcuffs. "

In New Delhi, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna expressed concern about the

way the students have been treated.

" We demand that the U.S. government initiate severe action against those

officials responsible for this inhuman act. Indian students are not criminals, "

Krishna said Monday. " The radio collars should immediately be removed. "

" The Ministry will extend all help to the students. The parents need not worry

since the matter has been taken up with appropriate authorities, " Krishna added.

U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Monday the use of radio

monitors is widespread and standard for investigations and " does not necessarily

imply guilt or suspicion of criminal activity. "

" It allows for freedom of movement and is a positive alternative to confinement

during a pending investigation, " Crowley said.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Agency is establishing a help line for the

Indian students affected by the school's closure, Crowley said.

Indian officials are asking that the students be allowed to transfer to other

U.S. universities or be allowed to return to India without being deported, which

would prevent them from returning to the U.S. and hurt their employment

prospects back home, said.

___

Associated Press Writer Lee in Washington contributed to this report.