Karanpreet Singh/India/Drug Trafficking

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Karanpreet Singh in the United States. The India national — here illegally — faces charges of drug trafficking.

Federal authorities treat drug trafficking by illegal aliens as a dual enforcement matter — criminal charges filed by prosecutors and a concurrent immigration removal action initiated by ICE. Trafficking charges at this level carry mandatory minimums under federal sentencing guidelines and form one of the strongest grounds for expedited removal. Singh is expected to face proceedings in both criminal and immigration courts on separate, independent timelines.

Federal authorities have placed Singh in immigration detention pending the outcome of removal proceedings. A Department of Justice immigration court will determine whether Singh is deported to India.