New Delhi: On Saturday, India issued a demarche to the American Embassy here expressing its concern over the detention of Indian students in the US, and sought immediate consular access to them. The External Affairs Ministry said India continues to closely monitor and take practical measures to address the situation arising out of the custody of several Indian students in connection with their enrolment in a "fraudulent university in the US".
While, on Wednesday One-hundred-thirty foreign students arrested by US authorities for enrolling at a fake university allegedly to remain in that country are largely Indians. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents made the arrests. Officials said that "Our concern over the dignity and well-being of the detained students and the need for immediate consular access for Indian officials to the detainees was reiterated,". The ministry said "We have urged the US side to share full details and regular updates of the students with the government, to release them from detention at the earliest and not to resort to deportation against their will,"
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The ministry said a 24/7 helpline has been established in the Indian Embassy in Washington for assistance/queries related to the detention of Indian students. The helpline numbers are: +1-202-322-1190 and +1-202-340-2590 and email is: cons3.Washington@mea.Gov.In.
The ministry of external affairs underlined to the US Embassy that students, who may have been duped into enrolling in the 'university' should be treated differently from those recruiters who have duped them. The India mission and consulates have visited several detention centers throughout the US to extend consular assistance to the detained students.