By Veritas News Hub | Los Angeles, USA
LOS ANGELES, USA – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Los Angeles has arrested a 26-year-old Indian national with a history of property crimes, the agency announced on May 23.
ICE Los Angeles said agents took Parminderpal Singh into custody on May 21. He remains in federal custody pending removal proceedings, the agency confirmed in a post on X.
According to ICE, Singh’s criminal record includes convictions for vehicle theft, grand theft, trespassing, and vandalism. The arrest was carried out as part of targeted enforcement operations focused on non-citizens with criminal histories in the United States.
ICE publicized the arrest through its official Los Angeles X account, posting: “ICE Los Angeles arrested Parminderpal Singh, 26, of India, on May 21. Singh’s criminal record includes vehicle theft, grand theft, trespassing, and vandalism. He is in ICE custody pending removal”.
The post included a photograph of Singh seated while wearing a blue Sikh turban and a FleetPride work uniform. The image quickly circulated online, triggering debate over immigration enforcement, hiring practices, and deportation procedures for repeat offenders.
Some social media users called for faster deportation of foreign nationals convicted of multiple offenses, while others questioned how individuals with criminal records remain employed in the U.S.. The case also drew comparisons to broader discussions about Sikh and Indian migrants in North America.
The arrest comes amid a broader enforcement push by ICE Los Angeles in recent weeks. The agency has highlighted multiple arrests involving non-citizens accused or convicted of crimes ranging from theft and firearms violations to child abuse.
ICE officials say such public announcements are intended to show enforcement actions targeting individuals deemed public safety concerns and to reinforce the agency’s focus on removing non-citizens with criminal records.
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, over 2,400 Indian nationals have been deported from the U.S. since January 2017. Deportation proceedings typically begin after criminal charges are resolved or sentences are served, depending on the case.
Singh’s case follows other high-profile actions involving Indian nationals in recent months. In September 2025, ICE detained and deported 73-year-old Sikh woman Harjit Kaur after nearly three decades in the U.S.. Kaur said she was denied medication and adequate food while in detention and was deported without a chance to return home or say goodbye to family.
ICE has also been involved in cases related to human smuggling and document fraud involving Indian nationals in California. In one 2023 case, a California resident was charged with running a scheme to smuggle Indian nationals across the northern border using rideshare companies, charging up to $11,500 per person. Law enforcement searches in that investigation uncovered cash and counterfeit identity documents.
Singh is now in ICE custody awaiting immigration court proceedings that will determine whether he is removed from the United States. Under U.S. law, non-citizens convicted of certain crimes are subject to mandatory detention and removal.
Extradition to India would require a formal request from the Indian government and a determination by U.S. courts that the legal requirements are met. The U.S. and India have an extradition treaty, but each case is reviewed on its facts, including the nature of the offenses and concerns about due process.
Civil liberties advocates often caution against expedited deportations without full review, especially when questions arise about fairness of legal proceedings in the requesting country. Law enforcement officials, however, argue that delays can pose risks to public safety if individuals with criminal records remain in the community.
The case is likely to feature in ongoing political debates over immigration enforcement and public safety in California and nationally. Homeland Security officials have previously said that detaining non-citizens with violent or repeat criminal records is central to protecting communities.
ICE has not released further details on where Singh was residing in Los Angeles or whether he had legal immigration status prior to arrest. Veritas News Hub will update this story as more information becomes available from ICE and federal court records.
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