Infosys CEO and Managing Director Salil Parekhon Wednesday dismissed reports alleging that an employee was detained or deported by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Speaking during the company’s earnings conference, Parekh clarified that the employee in question was denied entry into the United States and returned to India, but there was no detention or deportation involved.
The clarification comes after a viral post on X on Jan. 13 claimed that an Infosys employee from Mysore, who had traveled to the US for an on-site project, was held by ICE. The post alleged that the employee was given two hours to choose between returning to India or facing jail time.
It further claimed that the individual was escorted by agents during flights via Frankfurt to Bengaluru, where Infosys lawyers were reportedly present to receive him. The post also suggested that Infosys planned legal action against US authorities.
Parekh categorically denied these claims, stating that the reports circulating online were inaccurate.
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Indian IT companies, including Infosys, are facing increasing hurdles in the US due to stricter H-1B visa regulations. Measures such as a $100,000 fee for new visa applications, social media vetting of applicants and unpredictable processing times have disrupted cross-border service delivery and added complexity to on-site project deployments.
The controversy also comes at a time when ICE’s enforcement tactics are under heightened scrutiny. The agency faced backlash following the fatal shooting of protester Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis on Jan. 7. Additionally, ICE detention centers have been criticized for unsafe conditions.
According to ICE data, at least four detainees have died in custody in the first few days of 2026, following a year that marked the deadliest period for immigration detainees in two decades. In 2025 alone, 30 people died while in ICE detention, the highest annual toll since the agency’s creation in 2003.
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