🔗 Share this article

A man from Arkansas, detained for one month by federal immigration authorities after law enforcement misidentified his perfume bottle labeled “Opium” for actual opium, is now seeking to have his visa status reinstated after accusations were dropped.

Traffic Stop Leads to Surprising Detainment

Kapil Raghu, an Indian national married to an US citizen and working towards US citizenship, was apprehended on May 3rd after police officers in a Benton suburb, Arkansas, stopped his vehicle for a minor traffic infraction, according to his attorney.

During the traffic stop, officers found a small perfume bottle in his car labeled “Opium” and arrested Raghu for alleged narcotics possession, despite his assertion that the bottle held fragrance and the name “opium” indicated the scent.

“You got a vial of opium that was in your center console,” a police officer informed Raghu. “Go and take a seat.”

“I was not doing anything wrong when he pulled me over. I was following all regulations,” said Raghu, who mentioned he was delivering food when stopped.

Ashley Mays, Raghu’s spouse, reached the location and said, “I’m confused on why he’s going to jail.”

Forensic Analysis Confirm Fragrance, Not Narcotics

The Arkansas State Crime Lab determined that the material in the bottle was perfume, not opium, yet Raghu spent three days in the local detention facility, where authorities identified an “administrative/legal error” indicating his immigration status had lapsed.

Immigration authorities then detained him and transferred him to a federal immigration facility in a Louisiana location, where he was detained for 30 days.

“My wife called nightly,” Raghu explained to reporters, 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 Visa Standing Is Still Unresolved

Although charges against him were dismissed by a district court judge on 20 May, the ICE detainment created a setback in his path to becoming a permanent citizen.

Through a donation page to cover attorney costs and basic expenses, it was stated that Raghu’s employment authorization was revoked.

“Despite his release, he now faces deportation status, allowing immediate removal for any infraction, including jaywalking,” said a declaration from his legal counsel. “But, more crucially, this classification bars him from working and earning money for his family, which has been devastating for them.”

Formal Request Sent to Address Visa Issues

The individual submitted a letter to ICE’s legal office this week, explaining his case and inquiring whether his immigration status could be rectified through proper legal channels.

In the letter stated that his immigration attorney had “did not submit necessary documents on time before my visa lapsed, making me susceptible to my present circumstances.”

“My wife, who has always been my greatest support, is carrying the entire financial burden alone, as I am currently unable to work,” read the document from him. “Increasing legal costs and my inability to provide have made family life very hard and difficult to handle.”

Federal authorities, which manages ICE, did not immediately provide a response regarding Raghu’s case.