Indian national Vodela Yashaswi Kottapalli detained in US over multiple charges; ICE confirms custody, deportation underway. Photo: X.
US immigration authorities have detained an Indian national, Vodela Yashaswi Kottapalli, facing multiple criminal charges, including the alleged sexual assault of a minor, according to officials. The arrest comes amid intensified immigration enforcement measures in the United States and a broader rise in deportations involving Indian nationals.
The detainee, identified as Vodela Yashaswi Kottapalli, has been accused of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13, along with charges related to shoplifting and public disorder. In a statement posted on social media, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) described him as “a criminal illegal alien from India” and confirmed that he had been residing in the United States without legal status.
“Vodela Yashaswi Kottapalli, a criminal illegal alien from India, has pending charges for sexual assault and larceny in New Jersey,” ICE said, adding that the charges include shoplifting, public disorder, and sexual assault of a child under 13.
The agency also shared an image of the accused with the words “child rapist” displayed prominently across the photograph.
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Authorities stated that Vodela Yashaswi Kottapalli will remain in detention while immigration officials initiate deportation proceedings against him.
“We’ll keep him in custody pending removal proceedings,” ICE said, indicating that he will not be released during the legal process linked to his deportation.
Under US law, non-citizens accused of certain criminal offences, particularly serious crimes involving minors, may be held in immigration custody while their criminal cases move through the courts.
The detention of Vodela Yashaswi Kottapalli also comes in the context of stricter immigration enforcement policies promoted by Donald Trump, who made immigration control a central issue during his 2024 presidential campaign and pledged aggressive action against individuals living in the country without legal authorisation.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, more than 675,000 migrants have been deported since Trump returned to office last year. The department also claims that around 2.2 million others have “self-deported” as enforcement measures intensified.
The case also coincides with a notable increase in deportations involving Indian citizens. The Centre informed Parliament of India that more than 3,800 Indians were deported from the US in 2025 following nationality verification and coordination between the two governments.
US authorities have said that individuals accused or convicted of serious offences, especially those involving minors, are given priority for detention and removal from the country.
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
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