The Tri-Valley University in California raided and shut down by the US authorities — affecting hundreds of Indian students — looks to be one India-China operation gone horribly wrong.
"The whole (sic) thing is a sham. TVU has not broken any law ... and so does (sic) the students and the faculty," Chinese-born Tri-Valley president Susan Su said in an email to HT.
The 1,550 students, most of them Indians from Andhra Pradesh, live in fear of deportation at best and arrest and criminal prosecution at worst.
The faculty, mostly men and women of Chinese origin, has decided to stand with Su, who has squarely blamed two Indian staffers in papers purportedly filed by her in response to proceedings launched against her.
Immigration and customs enforcement raided Tri-Valley University in Pleasanton in California on June 20 for alleged violation of visa rules by the promoters — for basically running a "sham university".
The Student and Exchange Visa Program, which monitors the grant of student visas to
foreigners, issued Tri-Valley a notice on January 19, asking why it shouldn't be shut down.
In papers mailed to HT, Su has blamed two Indian staffers for the I20 misuse and the rest on "growth pains" saying the university was growing so fast, it slipped up on some protocol issues.
The affected students, meanwhile, have sought help from wherever they could. The Indian embassy in Washington and the consulates in San Fransisco and New York are in touch with them.
{{/usCountry}}The affected students, meanwhile, have sought help from wherever they could. The Indian embassy in Washington and the consulates in San Fransisco and New York are in touch with them.
{{/usCountry}}In talks with the US government, India has emphasised these points: The students cannot be blamed for enrolling in a university recognised and accredited for accepting foreign students; the students be allowed to seek transfer to other universities or go back and re-considered without prejudice and be sent back.