An Indian national on a student visa has been detained in the United States over serious criminal charges involving minors. The case has raised concern among Indian communities and international students.
According to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, multiple arrests were made on April 18 and 19. These were part of a larger operation targeting undocumented individuals with criminal records.
One of those detained was Nava Kumar Tupili, reportedly from NTR district. He was taken into custody in Michigan after being identified as a convicted offender in crimes involving minors.
Officials stated that Tupili had entered the United States on an F-1 student visa. However, his visa was revoked in 2024. He allegedly remained in the country illegally after that.
Authorities confirmed that he was convicted of “accosting children for immoral purposes” and “using a computer to commit a crime.” Due to the severity of the charges, his case has been moved to deportation proceedings.
ICE officials also said he has been transferred to federal custody. The legal process is expected to move quickly given the nature of the offences.
The arrest was part of a broader crackdown on individuals involved in serious crimes. These included offences like child exploitation, trafficking, kidnapping, and armed robbery.
The official social media account of ICE shared details of the arrest, including a photo of the accused. This has drawn attention both in the US and in India.
The case has sparked concern within the Indian community. At a time when scrutiny on Indian nationals is increasing, such incidents may create fear among genuine students abroad.
ICE took custody of Nava Kumar Tupili, a criminal illegal alien and convicted child predator from India, in Wayland, Mich., after the county jail honored an ICE detainer and turned him over to our officers instead of releasing him back into the community.
Tupili entered the… pic.twitter.com/eToY1yTVT6
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) April 23, 2026
