Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Jul 21: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday assured the Goa Legislative Assembly that the state government will monitor and address the issue of Goans detained in the US for visa overstays and undocumented work. He said his office would coordinate with the Indian consulate and relevant authorities to provide assistance.

The assurance came after AAP MLA Venzy Viegas raised the issue during Zero Hour, drawing attention to several Goan youth languishing in US detention centres, often unable to contact their families.

Viegas said most detainees travelled to the US seeking jobs due to limited employment opportunities in Goa and called the situation a “humanitarian crisis.”

He urged the state to take up the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs and made three key demands:

1. Identify the number of detained Goans.
2. Facilitate communication with families.
3. Offer legal and consular help, especially in cases of expired documents.

He also proposed forming a dedicated team or committee to work with US officials and offered to be part of such an initiative.

“This is a matter of deep concern,” Viegas said. “Immediate steps are needed to ensure our youth are not forced into desperate situations abroad due to lack of jobs at home.”