Indian Man Held in New Jersey Over Child Assault Charges
US immigration authorities have detained an Indian national in New Jersey who faces multiple charges, including alleged sexual assault of a child under 13.
In a statement, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) identified the person as Vodela Yashaswi Kottapalli and described him as an undocumented immigrant. He was charged with sexual assault of a minor, theft in connection with burglary and disrupting public order, the agency said.
ICE confirmed that he will remain in custody while deportation proceedings are initiated under US immigration law. Authorities stated that he will not be released during the legal process.
The detention comes amid a larger increase in deportations of Indian citizens from the United States. The Center recently informed Parliament that more than 3,800 citizens will be deported from the United States in 2025 following citizenship verification and coordination between the two countries. Authorities did not say how many cases were linked to criminal charges for immigration violations.
According to immigration authorities, non-citizens accused of serious crimes, especially those involving minors, may be detained while court proceedings are ongoing.
