Focus on reinstatement of Tri Valley University students: US

WASHINGTON: US has said it is currently focusing on the reinstatement of those students not implicated in the ongoing investigations into the visa scam by the California-based Tri Valley University.

"I think the focus right now (is) on what happens for students who are not implicated in the ongoing investigation, those are matters under active discussion within the Department of Homeland Security," the State Department spokesman, P J Crowley said.

Some 1,500 Indian students were affected by the closure of the Tri Valley University in January.

Indian authorities say so far more than 50 percent of these students are in the process of being reinstated to other universities so that their academic career is not affected.

In her letter to the Indian Ambassador to the US, Meera Shankar, the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, said that the Department of State continues is following the case closely and is working with the Department of Homeland Security and the Government of India to ensure fair and appropriate treatment of the students, she said in her letter dated February 22.

"Pleased be assured that their interests and the interest of all Indian students in the United States would be carefully considered," Clinton said according to Shankar, who effectively took up the matter with the State Department and other agencies of the US Government including The US Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE).

As many as 18 Indian students were radio tagged, which the External Affairs Minister, S M Krishna, termed as inhuman.

Radio tags from 13 of these students have been removed, while discussions are on with US authorities on the rest of them.

India would be satisfied when all the cases are fully resolved and students are not in a position of uncertainty.

"We continue to monitor this on a regular basis and are in touch with the authorities on this issue," Shankar told reporters last week.