Viral shoplifting arrest prompts US visa warning for Indian visitors

A video capturing the dramatic arrest of an Indian tourist in the United States for alleged shoplifting has triggered a sharp advisory from the US Embassy in India, warning that criminal behavior — no matter how minor it may seem — can cost foreign nationals their visas and future chances of entering the country.

The advisory came just a day after bodycam footage went viral showing a woman, identified as an Indian national named Avlani, being detained for attempting to steal nearly $1,000 worth of merchandise from a Target store in Illinois. In the video, which has spread rapidly across social media, the visibly distressed woman is seen pleading with officers, asking, “Why can’t I just pay for it?” One of the officers responds flatly: “We’re way past that. You committed a felony.”

The US Embassy’s message, posted on X, carried a clear warning: “Committing assault, theft, or burglary in the United States won’t just cause you legal issues — it could lead to your visa being revoked and make you ineligible for future US visas. The United States values law and order and expects foreign visitors to follow all US laws.”

Legal experts reinforced the seriousness of the offense. US-based immigration attorney Alen Takhsh noted that even an arrest — regardless of conviction can be enough to derail a person’s immigration status. “Shoplifting is considered a Crime Involving Moral Turpitude. It reflects on character and honesty, and can trigger severe immigration consequences, including visa revocation,” he said.

The advisory is part of a broader tightening of US immigration enforcement, which has accelerated under President Donald Trump’s administration. According to recent United Nations data, over 142,000 individuals have been deported from the US since January alone. Heightened social media scrutiny and more rigid background checks for visa applicants have also been rolled out, although India has not been directly impacted by the administration’s travel bans.

The incident has sparked a flurry of conversations online, with many warning travelers to be mindful of local laws abroad. As one immigration analyst put it, “What may seem like a small mistake can become a lifelong ban.”