An Indian-origin man living in Arkansas, named Kapil Raghu, was arrested by local police after they mistook a bottle of perfume in his car for an illegal drug during a traffic check. Now, he’s facing deportation threats.
The ordeal began on May 3 when Raghu was stopped by Benton police on May 3 for a minor traffic violation while he was out for a food delivery. During the search of his car, the police spotted a bottle labeled “Opium,” and mistook it for the banned drug. Though Raghu clarified that it is a designer perfume bottle, he was arrested on the grounds of possible drug possession.
The incident was captured on bodycam footage obtained by THV11, where an officer was heard telling Raghu, “You got a vial of opium that was in your center console.” The Arkansas State Crime Lab later verified that the bottle obtained by the police actually contained perfume, not opium. Raghu told the local newspaper, Saline Courier, that he was complying with all rules and was confused by the arrest.
However, despite the official confirmation, Raghu was forced to spend three days in the Saline County jail, on the pretense of an issue with his immigration paperwork. Authorities claimed that his visa had expired, which was rebutted by Raghu’s attorney, Mike Laux, as an “administrative error.” But trouble didn’t end for him regardless.
Visa revoked and deportation threats: Trouble hasn’t ended for Raghu
Even after the narcotics charge was dropped by a district court on May 20, Raghu’s visa was revoked during his detainment. He was then transferred to a federal immigration facility in Louisiana, where he was held for 30 days by ICE. In a letter sent to ICE’s legal office, Raghu explained that the visa issue arose due to his previous attorney’s failure to file paperwork on time.
Following his release from the federal facility, his attorney revealed that Raghu’s legal status in the US is under threat, and he now faces a deportation threat. “It is my understanding that, though released, Kapil now has a deportation status, meaning he can be immediately deported for any minor offense, even jaywalking,” Laux said.
Raghu’s family in the U.S. is equally distressed
The classification has also put a bar on Raghu’s right to work and earn money for his family in the US. Raghu has now requested to restore his legal status through proper legal channels, but his family remains devastated by the situation. “The mounting legal fees and the pressure of not being able to contribute have created a difficult situation for our family. My wife is carrying the entire financial burden,” Raghu said in his letter to ICE.
Raghu’s wife, Alhley Mays, who is an American citizen, also feels threatened by the ordeal, saying how she, too, has become “paranoid” of police officers now. “It was just cologne… If a cop gets behind me on the road, I just panic. I wouldn’t normally think twice, but now I’m paranoid,” she opened up.
“This doesn’t just affect Kapil and me. My daughter looks at him as a father figure. He missed her fourth-grade graduation because he was locked up.”
Amidst Raghu’s fight for justice and his legal status, attorney Laux has also pointed out how Benton police violated the Vienna Convention by not notifying the Indian Consulate upon Raghu’s arrest, which ensures arrested foreign nationals access to legal and consular support.
