Daijiworld Media Network- New York

New York, Aug 6: In a serious development involving immigration fraud, a 34-year-old Indian national has been arrested in the United States for allegedly possessing a forged Lawful Permanent Resident Card, commonly known as a Green Card.

According to a statement released by the US Attorney’s Office of the Western District of New York, the accused, identified as Swapnil Ramesh Tejale, now faces federal charges that could lead to a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of USD 2,50,000.

The incident came to light on July 10, 2025, when the Niagara Falls Police, Department requested assistance from the local Border Patrol following a routine traffic stop involving three individuals. When questioned about their citizenship status, Tejale produced what appeared to be a resident card but soon admitted that the document was fake.

Further investigations revealed that Tejale had no valid immigration documents authorizing him to remain in the United States. In addition, officers recovered a Social Security Card under his name, which was also confirmed to be fraudulent.

The case is part of "Operation Take Back America" — a sweeping federal initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling transnational criminal organizations, and bolstering public safety.

The investigation was led by the US Border Patrol Niagara Falls Station, under the supervision of Patrol Agent in Charge Brady Waikal. Assistant US Attorney Michael J. Smith is overseeing the legal proceedings.

In a related case, another Indian national based in Santa Rosa, California, was sentenced to six months imprisonment in March this year after being convicted for conspiracy to transport aliens for profit. The verdict came after a thorough probe by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agencies.

Authorities continue to emphasize strict enforcement against immigration-related violations, particularly those involving forged documents and human smuggling networks.