Gujarat Man Caught Attempting to Enter U.S. with Stolen Passport

AC Patel, a Gujarat resident, was caught trying to enter the U.S. with a stolen Pakistani passport and was subsequently deported. He admitted to purchasing a false identity from a Dubai agent. In a separate case, Karan Jayanti Tandel faced charges for using fake documents to acquire an Indian passport and pursue Portuguese citizenship. Both incidents reflect increased scrutiny on illegal immigration following recent political changes in the US.

A man from Gujarat attempted to unlawfully enter the United States by utilizing a stolen Pakistani passport. The individual, identified as AC Patel, assumed the alias Mohammad Najir Hussain. However, authorities identified the fraudulent act, leading to Patel’s deportation back to India, as reported by The Times of India.

Patel arrived at Delhi Airport on February 12, having traveled on flight AA-292. Immigration officials grew suspicious upon realizing that the Pakistani passport he presented was not counterfeit but a legitimate document reported lost belonging to Mr. Hussain. Subsequently, Patel was arrested by Delhi Police for charges related to impersonation and passport misuse.

During the investigative process, Patel confessed to hiring an agent in Dubai to secure the false identity. Rather than renew his expired Indian passport from 2016, he opted to engage with human traffickers who facilitated his illegal travel through Dubai. A source informed The Times of India, “Human smugglers pick passports that are strong for getting a US visa or randomly assign some UAE citizen’s passport to sneak into the US.”

In a comparable incident from the previous month, another Gujarati man was apprehended for allegedly using forged documents to acquire an Indian passport before seeking Portuguese citizenship. Karan Jayanti Tandel, from Nani Daman, initially obtained his Indian passport under the false name of Ramesh Tandel, using an address in Mumbai. During his application for a Portuguese passport, discrepancies emerged, triggering an investigation.

Authorities uncovered that Tandel had already received Portuguese citizenship and had misrepresented his identity to assist his aunt in obtaining residency in Portugal. During the interrogation, Tandel admitted to utilizing a counterfeit Aadhaar card and driver’s license. Law enforcement suspects he intended to exploit the benefits of dual citizenship, an illegal practice under Indian law, resulting in charges under the Passport Act and the Indian Penal Code.

These incidents occur amid heightened enforcement measures by US authorities targeting undocumented Indian immigrants, particularly following Donald Trump’s reinstatement to office in January. Recently, four flights carrying deported Indians, comprising 74 individuals from Gujarat, have returned to India.

On February 23, the latest group of deported individuals arrived in Delhi, with 12 on board. Prior flights experienced a surge in deportees, including 104 individuals on February 5, 116 on February 15, and 112 on February 16, all landing in Amritsar.

In conclusion, these cases highlight the ongoing issue of individuals attempting to circumvent immigration laws through fraudulent means. The stringent measures implemented by US authorities are a response to rising instances of undocumented immigration. Importantly, both AC Patel and Karan Jayanti Tandel’s cases serve as reminders of the legal repercussions associated with such actions, reinforcing the importance of adhering to immigration regulations.

Original Source: www.ndtv.com