Washington – An Indian American student would not face immediate deportation after serving 20 days of his jail sentence for using a webcam to spy on his gay roommate who later committed suicide according to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities.
In an email statement to India America Today, Feinstein Ross from the ICE, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said, “Based on a review of Mr. (Dharun) Ravi’s criminal record, ICE is not initiating removal proceedings at this time.”
According to reports the former Rutgers University student Ravi would be released on Tuesday after serving 20 days out of a total sentence of 30 days in jail for spying on his roommate Tyler Clementi’s gay rendezvous with an older man and Clementi committed suicide days later. The sentence was reduced for good behavior and working.
The ICE statement further explained, “Individuals who commit certain crimes may be removable from the United States. For instance, individuals admitted to the United States may become removable if they are convicted of an aggravated felony, a domestic violence crime, drug or weapons offenses or crimes involving moral turpitude, as outlined by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).”
“he criminal grounds of removability are elaborated in sections 101(a)(43), 212(a)(2), and 237(a)(2) of the INA, and it is ordinarily up to an immigration judge with the Executive Office for Immigration Review to decide whether or not to order an alien removed from the United States,” it concluded.
Earlier at his sentencing, Judge Glenn Berman recommended that Ravi, a US green card holder but a citizen of India, not be deported.
Judge Berman said, “I do not believe he hated Tyler Clementi,” adding, “He had no reason to, but I do believe he acted out of colossal insensitivity.”
Ravi is appealing the conviction but for now faces three years of probation, 300 hours of community service and attend counseling programs for cyber-bullying and alternative lifestyles.
In addition, Ravi must start paying $10,000 assessment to the probation department in increments of $300 per month beginning August 1. According to official sources, the money would be channeled to victims of bias crimes. (IATNS)