The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has accused an Indian national of multiple crimes, including the sexual assault of a minor, and has placed him in detention. In a post on X, ICE stated that the man was charged with sexually assaulting a child under 13, shoplifting, and causing public disturbances. The agency identified him as Vodela Yashaswi Kottapalli and said he faces pending sexual assault and larceny charges in New Jersey, adding that he will remain in custody while removal proceedings are underway.

Under the administration of Donald Trump, immigration enforcement has intensified, with ICE increasing actions against undocumented immigrants. In December, ICE also reported on an Indian truck driver involved in a deadly highway crash in Oregon that resulted in two fatalities. According to ICE, the driver had entered the United States unlawfully through Arizona in November 2022 but was later issued a work permit and a commercial driving license by authorities in California. This incident was one of several involving Indian nationals operating heavy trucks in the US. Authorities have reported at least three other fatal accidents in recent months involving undocumented Indian drivers in Florida and California.

Established in 2003 through the merger of enforcement units from the former US Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service, ICE now employs over 20,000 personnel across more than 400 offices globally. With an annual budget of about $8 billion, the agency operates mainly through three divisions: Homeland Security Investigations, Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, supported by its Management and Administration branch.