News India Times

www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know US Affairs News India Times (February 28, 2026 - March 6, 2026) March 6, 2026 7 US Assistant AG Dhillon Claims H-1B Visas Taking Away American Jobs; Wants To “Root Out” Problem I ndian American Harmeet Dhillon, the US Assistant Attorney General is claiming that H-1B visas of which Indian high-skilled immigrants are the greatest beneficiaries, are taking away American jobs. In an X post video, Dhillon, said it was ‘deeply problematic’ that federal funding flows to institutions that disproportion- ately hire H-1B visa workers over Ameri- can workers. Dhillon, who heads the Civil Rights Division, asserted, “@TheJusticeDept will continue to root out this problem and protect the employment @CivilRights of Americans!” In the interview posted alongwith some statements, Dhillon said, “The idea that we’re allowing our federal funding to go to institutions that disproportionately hire H-1 B visa and other legal Visa categories when there are Americans who can fill those jobs is also problematic.” She went on to say. “I’m an immigrant, and, you know, I’m grateful that my fam- ily was able to come to the country. My dad was a doctor and provided medical services to rural areas for most of his ca- reer. and that’s an important role because frankly, American medical schools are not pumping out enough doctors to serve all of our institutions.So why aren’t they? ” she questioned. “We should be solving that problem so that the foreign medical graduates, the foreign engineer, the foreign CEO is an exception and not a significant swathe of the populace,” she said. that needs to be solved by society and the demand needs to be changed, she opined. “We can do certain things at the DOJ, and we can inflict pain on institutions that are completely violating federal law,” Dhillon conceded, ” but there are so many more pieces to this puzzle that need to be solved outside the Department of Justice.” By a StaffWriter PHOTO:SCREENSHOTFILE PHOTO Asst. AG Harmeet Dhillon speaking in a video posted on X @AAGDhillon Feb. 25, 2026. A California woman, Varsha Patel, 57, of Chino Hills, owner of a motel, was sentenced on Feb. 4, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to five years of probation, forfeiture of the Royal Inn motel, forfeiture of $744,000, and a $5,000 fine. Patel previously pleaded guilty to “Using a Facility of Interstate Commerce in Aid of Racketeering Enterprises,” a February 17, press release from the U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine’s Office, District of Arizona, said, noting that the motel was “known for serving as a hub for prostitution and drug activities.” “When federal and local law enforcement team up it’s a force multiplier. In this case, the Phoenix Police Depart- ment, FBI and U.S. Marshals joined forces to shut down the Royal Inn, making an immediate and significant impact on public safety,” Courchaine said. “This sentencing is the culmination of several years of hard work by both the FBI and the Phoenix Police Department. The defendant knowingly and willingly operated the Royal Inn to facilitate the sexual exploitation of people and the sale of drugs,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge, Heith Janke. “Our partnerships with federal agencies are critical in dismantling organizations that allow criminal behavior to affect the quality of life of our community members,” said Phoenix Police Chief Matt Giordano. A search warrant was executed in September 2024 at the Royal Inn, located at 2510W. Palo Verde Drive in Phoenix, Arizona, following an extensive investigation by the Phoenix Police Department and the FBI. “The high volume of criminal activity at the Royal Inn was well known in the community where residents, business owners, and two schools, witnessed around-the- clock prostitution and drug dealing,” the press release said. Following the execution of a search and seizure war- rant, the U.S. Marshals Service shuttered and fenced off the premises. The Phoenix Police Department, FBI Phoenix, and the U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. Royal Inn Owner Of Indian Origin Sentenced By a StaffWriter PHOTO:DREAMSTIME_L_64783187 Community Businessman Gupta Refused Permission To Appeal In Trafigura Nickel Fraud Lawsuit I ndian businessman Prateek Gupta was refused permission by London’s High Court on Thursday to appeal against a ruling that he defrauded commodi- ties trader Trafigura over fake nickel cargoes. Geneva-based Trafigura alleged Gupta was the mas- termind of a fraudulent “Ponzi scheme” in which he and his companies agreed to provide high-quality 99.8% pure nickel but delivered low-value or even worthless materi- als instead. Gupta accepted he did not deliver high-grade nickel cargoes but says Trafigura staff devised the scheme, something Trafigura’s former head nickel trader Sokratis Oikonomou denied. Judge Pushpinder Saini ruled last month that Trafigura was induced to enter into contracts “by false and fraudu- lent representations” made by Gupta and his companies. The judge also said Trafigura’s former employees, including Oikonomou, were “wholly innocent of any wrongdoing”. Gupta sought permission to appeal that ruling and was refused, but can still apply directly to the Court of Appeal. Trafigura’s lawyer Nathan Pillow said at Thursday’s brief hearing that Trafigura was owed around $640 mil- lion in total, including $140 million in interest. Gupta is subject to a worldwide freezing order over his assets and agreed to limit his living expenses under that order to 5,000 pounds ($6,763.50) a month, from 20,000 pounds a month. Last year’s trial, which concluded in December, was the culmination of events that began in November 2022, when Trafigura first received complaints about cargoes it had sold. The discovery prompted Trafigura to carry out further inspections, book a $590 million charge and then sue Gupta and his companies in February 2023 for what it then described as “systematic fraud”. -Reuters