Washington, Feb 1 : As radio-tagging of scores of Indian students duped by a "sham" US university continues to cause anger back home, the controversial institute has claimed that one of its Indian-origin staff was responsible for the immigration fraud and it was not directly involved in it.
Breaking its silence, the California-based Tri Valley University (TVU), which was shut down last month, termed as "baseless" the allegations of immigration fraud against the institute and claimed that it had not duped any student.
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) brought "this baseless allegation and put a red-tape in the school operation for a federal investigation, causing hundreds of students to withdraw from classes (and) many instructors requested to quit teaching for the current term.
"Also, it caused a profitable university operation to quickly sink into negative in financial debt," Susan Su, President and founder of the TVU, said in an e-mail to PTI.
"Starting in April, one of student assistants Anji Reddy, who worked in TVU administrative office, teamed with another student Ram Krista Karra, who also has a consultant company, conducting a large cheating scheme by asking students to make tuition payment into Ram Krista Karra's personal account in exchange for student I-20 and CPT approval. TVU has fired these two individuals," the e-mail said.
The complaint against TVU before the ICE was made by these two, Su claimed.
Hundreds of Indian students were facing deportation and their academic career was in limbo due to the closer of the university by the ICE. Many of them were also forced to wear radio collars around their ankles so that US authorities can keep track of their movements.
India has taken up the matter with the State Department and other concerned US officials, asking them to ensure that none of the Indian students is victimised.
External Affairs Minister S M Krishna termed the radio-tagging of the students as an "inhuman act" and demanded severe action against those responsible.
State Department spokesman P J Crowley has, however, said ankle monitors are used across the US as part of a standard procedure for a variety of investigation and that this does not necessarily imply guilt or suspicion of criminal activity.
The US has taken very seriously the alleged immigration scam of Tri Valley University in California, which has mainly affected Indian students, he told reporters yesterday.
"We take these allegations of immigration and visa fraud very seriously. These allegations are an excellent example of the universally damaging effects of visa fraud," he said.
Crowley said the ICE has established a helpline for the Indian students affected by the closure of the university.
"Those who are involved in this investigation have been issued ankle monitors. This is widespread across the United States and standard procedure for a variety of investigations. It does not necessarily imply guilt or suspicion of criminal activity," he said.
"But we are following this case closely. We are in regular communication with officials of the Government of India. DHS (Department of Homeland Security) and ICE are leading this investigation, and that's about all I can say at this point," he said in response to a question.
According to a federal complaint, the university helped foreign nationals illegally acquire immigration status.
In the e-mail and an attached document running into eight pages, Su claimed the TVU had not charged money from students for visa-related documents. And only 140 students out if its nearly 5,500 students had TVU I-20.
"Please see the attached TVU defend, and spread the truth, to put an end of this 'sham' investigation!" SHE said.
The statement that Department of Homeland Security approved TVU's I-17 applications which contained false statements and misrepresentations is wrong, she said.
There was no immediate response from ICE on the claims made by Su. Su claimed that TVU is a Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP)-verified and approved legitimate School that can admit international students.
TVU charged same fee with qualified international students as it did with US students to register in its classes and study its material, she said.
Accusing the ICE of levying false charges against her university, Su said it was a "sham" claim and added that it was Reddy who cheated the students and charged money for I-20 and CPT approvals.
The federal authorities should apologise for such a "serious" mistake, "repay for the damage done to the University and the founder Dr Susan Su's name and reputation," the e-mail said. Every day in the past two weeks, the university has been receiving refund claim of $300,000 per day.
Responding to allegations that hundreds of students having the same residential address in an apartment in California, Su claimed that this was done without her knowledge by ABS Consultant firm; which was responsible for all the international students of the university.
According to the email, TVU signed a contract with ABS that they will receive 20 per cent of each international student's tuition fee as the referral fee, and their responsibility would include recruiting, referring students, VISA interview consultant, status change consultant, reinstatement consultant as well as airport pickup and accommodation.
Duped Indian students in US face uncertain future
The Indian students duped by a fake university in the US face an uncertain future as their appeal is not likely to be heard in a court there before September.
The 1,555 students, mostly from Andhra Pradesh, feel they are being subjected to inhuman treatment by the US authorities for no fault of theirs. They want the Indian government to immediately come to their rescue and help them transfer to other US universities.
The families of the students are worried as the US authorities have tied radio monitors to their ankles and may deport them for violation of visa rules. The dreams of the students to pursue higher education in the US came crashing last week after the Tri-Valley University in California was raided for helping foreigners to illegally obtain student visas.
The students' families said they not only lost huge amounts of money but now also face a bleak future. With their appeal not likely to come up for hearing in a US court before September, the students may have to undergo the agonizing wait for a few months.
"I don't know whether I will be able to meet my parents again. I don't know what will happen," one of the cheated students told a Telugu television channel in California. "We are not criminals and murderers to be treated this way," said the girl, who had a radio monitor tagged to her ankle.
"Please understand, we have been cheated and we have not come here to cheat anybody," the student said in a choked voice. While breaking down repeatedly during the conversation, the girl said she consulted an attorney who informed her that their first appeal would be heard only in September.
"I got the admission to the university in May last year through a consultancy after I obtained all the information about the university through the internet. If the university is bogus, why they (US authorities) granted us visa?" she asked.
"Had we known about the university, we would have never come here. Who would like to be cheated," said the girl, who declined to be named. After reaching California, the students realised that they were taken for a ride.
According to them, the university was operating from a single room. Though they requested for a transfer to some other university, the dean told them that it was not possible before two semesters.
Another student said the university was conducting only virtual classes but they were informed it would soon set up a campus.
He said there was never a doubt about the genuineness of the university as a large number of students were visiting India during the vacations and after the marriage returning with their spouses.
"We preferred California as it has a huge population of Indians and you don't feel home sick," said a student, who had got himself from another university to Tri-Valley.
While some students had been taken to undisclosed locations by US immigration authorities, others were allowed to stay in the apartments but were tagged radio monitors to keep a tab on their movements.
The students said they were yet to receive any assistance either from the Indian embassy or Telugu associations. "We appeal to the Indian government to immediately do something," he said.
Each student had paid Rs.600,000 for the admission alone. Their parents, who had raised huge loans to send their children to the US, are now finding it difficult to send the money to prevent their arrest.
The US consulate in Hyderabad, however, said the students who were victims of fraud would be free to take fresh admissions in the US. A statement said such students can even come back to India and apply for fresh visas.
"A legitimate student who is a fraud victim should have little trouble re-applying and enrolling in a different, fully-accredited educational organisation," the statement said.
Meanwhile, opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have urged the central government to take up the students's issue with the US administration.
"If necessary, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should speak to (US President) Obama to help the students and save their future," TDP leader Yerran Naidu said.
BJP state president Kishan Reddy said his party would extend all possible assistance to students through Overseas Friends of the BJP. He alleged that the US, which raises hue and cry over violations of human rights, itself was violating the rights through inhuman treatment of the students.
Source: PTI & IANS
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