An Arkansas Resident Attempts to Regain Immigration Status Following Detainment Due to Opium-Scented Fragrance Container
A man from Arkansas, held for one month by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after law enforcement mistook his perfume bottle labeled “Opium” for real opium, is now attempting to have his visa status restored after charges were dismissed.
Traffic Stop Results in Unexpected Arrest
Kapil Raghu, an Indian national married to an American woman and pursuing US citizenship, was detained on 3 May after law enforcement in a Benton suburb, Arkansas, pulled him over for a non-moving traffic violation, according to his legal representative.
At the scene, police found a small perfume bottle in his car marked “Opium” and took into custody Raghu for alleged drug possession, despite his assertion that the bottle contained perfume and the word “opium” indicated the aroma.
“There was a container of opium in your console,” a police officer informed him. “Go and take a seat.”
“I was obeying all rules when stopped. I had done nothing incorrect,” stated Raghu, who mentioned he was making a food delivery when stopped.
His wife, the man’s partner, reached the scene and said, “I’m confused on why he’s going to jail.”
Lab Results Confirm Fragrance, Not Narcotics
State forensic experts concluded that the material in the bottle was perfume, not opium, yet Raghu remained for three days in the local detention facility, where authorities identified an “administrative/legal error” showing his visa status had expired.
ICE officers then took Raghu into custody and transferred him to a government detention center in Louisiana, where he was held for one month.
“My wife called nightly,” he told media, speaking next to his spouse. “Crying, and my stepdaughter putting a Bible on her chest, crying. My stepdaughter was crying a lot. And she [Mays] was planning to sell her cars and move to some other country where we can live happily.”
Charges Dropped, but Immigration Status Is Still Uncertain
While charges against Raghu were dismissed by a district court judge on May 20th, the ICE detainment caused a problem in his journey to becoming a permanent citizen.
In a fundraising effort to cover legal fees and living costs, it was mentioned that his work visa was revoked.
“Despite his release, he now faces deportation status, allowing immediate removal for any infraction, including jaywalking,” said a declaration by his attorney. “But, more crucially, this classification bars him from working and earning money for his family, which has been devastating for them.”
Legal Appeal Submitted to Address Immigration Issues
Raghu submitted a letter to immigration authorities this recently, detailing his situation and inquiring whether his legal standing could be rectified through proper legal channels.
In the letter explained that his immigration attorney had “did not submit necessary documents on time before my visa lapsed, making me susceptible to my present circumstances.”
“My spouse, my main supporter, now bears all financial responsibilities since I cannot work,” said the letter from Raghu. “Increasing legal costs and my inability to provide have made family life very hard and difficult to handle.”
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees immigration enforcement, has not yet offered a response regarding Raghu’s case.
