NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Atlanta, GA, April 6, 2026: An Indian international student was deported from the United States following a secondary inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), after admitting to past marijuana use, according to a recent LinkedIn post by immigration case manager Malavika Nandivelugu.
Nandivelugu, who works at The Law Offices of Kevin J. Stewart, shared details of the case. She said the student had no criminal record, no history of driving under the influence, and no evidence of unauthorized employment. She noted that even a phone search conducted during inspection did not reveal any incriminating material. Messages, location data, and other content reportedly aligned with the student’s statements, and a photograph related to a food delivery service that raised questions was explained satisfactorily.
Despite this, the student was denied entry and deported.
According to the attorney, the turning point came when the student acknowledged having used marijuana in the past. That admission alone, she said, was sufficient under U.S. immigration law to render the student inadmissible.
Nandivelugu emphasized that while marijuana may be legal in several U.S. states, it remains illegal under federal law. Immigration enforcement operates under federal statutes, meaning that even casual or past use can have serious consequences for non-citizens, including those on F-1 student visas.
“This is not about morality. It’s about consequences,” she wrote, adding that many students are unaware of how such admissions can impact their immigration status.
She said the case highlights a broader issue of lack of awareness among international students regarding immigration rules. According to her, these risks are typically explained during university orientation sessions, but are often overlooked or not fully understood.
Nandivelugu also urged international students to exercise caution and avoid situations that could jeopardize their status. She advised students not to assume that state-level legalization protects them in immigration matters.
