(Image source from: Livemint)
In the wake of reports regarding the detainment of 52 Sikhs at the United States detention center, an Indian-American businessman Sant Singh Chatwal said the probe is afoot into an "unfortunate" incident.
"The matter is under investigation. We are checking on their involvement (with the contingent of illegal immigrants who are seeking asylum). I am sure that the U.S. will make a fair decision. What happened there is an unfortunate thing. I can't say much, but if an Indian in the U.S. gets into a problem, we help them," he told ANI.
Chatwal then went on to inform how he himself was entangled in an immense case in the States.
"I also had a case where I gave money to Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton for some political interests. A judge, who was 92 years old told me that it was not illegal and there were no implications. In America, there is a justice system. If that thing wasn't there, then I would have been in jail today," he said.
Speaking over the rigorous. immigration regulations imposed by the Donald Trump administration, Chatwal implied that such regulations have to be relaxed and modified.
According to earlier this week reports, 52 immigrants, mostly Sikhs were being held at an Oregon detention center for being part of a contingent of illegal immigrants seeking asylum.
The 52 immigrants, who are from different states of India, are getting legal assistance from a law firm in the jail in Oregon (Sheridan).
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had sought a report from the Indian embassy in the U.S. on the matter on July 16.
Navneet Kaur, who accompanied members of law firm to the detention center noted that the prisoners were being prepared for 'Credible Fear Interviews', whereby a person who demonstrates that he or she has a believable fright of reverting to his or her motherland cannot be subject to exile from the U.S. until the person's asylum case is processed.
Kaur has assured the parents of the 52 immigrants that "Americans are standing up for their sons".
"If on one hand, interfaith communities are organizing prayer events for their sons, non-profit organizations like UNIDOS are collecting and depositing funds in their commissary accounts. If on one hand, pro bono attorneys are representing their sons, translators and interpreters are offering their services free of cost," she said.
By Sowmya Sangam
