In a significant move under a broader effort to curb illegal immigration, US authorities arrested Indian national Swapnil Ramesh Tejale, aged 34, for allegedly possessing a counterfeit US resident card. The charge, announced by US Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, could result in a maximum 10-year prison term and a fine of up to $250,000.
The arrest follows a probe conducted by the US Border Patrol’s Niagara Falls Station, part of the ongoing Operation Take Back America — a federal initiative aimed at dismantling transnational crime and preventing unlawful entry into the country.
According to Assistant US Attorney Michael J Smith, the case emerged on July 10, 2025, when Niagara Falls Police stopped a vehicle and requested assistance in verifying the identities of three occupants. During questioning, Tejale produced a resident card which he later confessed was forged.
Subsequent checks confirmed Tejale lacked valid immigration documents, making his presence in the US unauthorized. Officers also discovered a fraudulent Social Security card in his possession, adding to the charges.
Authorities confirmed this arrest is part of a nationwide crackdown aimed at eliminating illegal entry routes and dismantling criminal networks linked to immigration fraud.
In a related incident, another Indian national in California was sentenced to six months in prison earlier this year for conspiring to transport undocumented migrants for financial gain.
This development underscores the US government’s zero-tolerance stance on immigration violations and fraudulent documentation.