NEW YORK, 6 AUG

Swapnil Ramesh Tejale, a 34-year-old Indian national, has been arrested in the United States on charges of possessing a forged Green Card and a fake Social Security card, following a traffic stop in New York last month, officials said.

The incident occurred on 10 July, 2025, when local police in Niagara Falls requested assistance from the Border Patrol during a routine stop. Tejale presented a Lawful Permanent Resident Card, commonly known as a Green Card, but later admitted that the document was counterfeit.

Subsequent investigation revealed that Tejale did not hold any valid immigration documentation permitting him to reside in the United States. Authorities also recovered a Social Security card bearing his name, which was confirmed to be fraudulent.

Tejale has been charged with possession of forged immigration and identification documents—a federal offence punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to USD 250,000.

The case is being prosecuted under ‘Operation Take Back America’, a federal initiative aimed at curbing illegal immigration and document fraud.