Hyderabad: Amid the recent deportation of 104 people, Indian students pursuing higher education in the US are an edgy lot, as scrutiny from law enforcement agencies has intensified. Many students TOI spoke to said random checks have become commonplace of late, with “officers in uniform” demanding to see the students’ ID cards or check their work authorisation documents — in case they are on Optional Practical Training (OPT).
While an OPT — initially issued for a period of one year post-college — allows students to work for the stipulated period, those on F1 visa have permission to work for only 20 hours a week at on-campus jobs. But, students often breach this work-time cap to earn extra bucks.
Since a majority of the students pick up part-time work at local grocery stores, gas stations and eateries, they said the recent checks are largely concentrated in these locations. Most of them take up these jobs for an average pay of $7-$10 per hour.
Students confessed that these checks have intensified fears of deportation within the community. However, they remained uncertain about the identity of the officials. Some claimed they were questioned by local police officers, while others said they were “interrogated” by agents from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and US Customs and Border Protection (USBP). Repeated emails to ICE and USBP went unanswered.
“Last week, officers came in and began questioning the staff at the restaurant where I work six hours every day after college. They asked for my college ID. Fortunately, I was coming out of the restroom, so I told them I was just there to use the facility. My employer backed me,” said an Indian pursuing a masters in cybersecurity in Atlanta. “The experience was so petrifying that I resigned the very next day,” the student, who worked as a waiter to fund his expenses, added.
A student pursuing Master’s in computer science in New Jersey said he was quizzed about his visa status and student ID, while at work at a local gas station. “My employer, who is from my hometown in Nalgonda, intervened and told them I was his distant relative and had just arrived in the US for the Jan intake,” he shared.
A 26-year-old had a run-in with law enforcement officers while he was at a restaurant in Atlanta to pick up a delivery order. “I told him I was just there to eat,” the student said, adding that living under constant fear has become the new norm. “I am always scared and constantly wondering if I should quit the job,” said the student.
Given the current situation, experts are advising Indian students to avoid engaging in unauthorised work. “While we understand that managing expenses is a major concern, it should not come at the cost of their education and legal status in the US. The scrutiny is only going to increase hereon,” said Ravi Lothumalla, a Texas-based expert in university admissions.
