Indian-origin Briton deported from US due to 'skin colour'

London: A UK-based Indian-origin man who had traveled to the US from London on a business trip has alleged that he was held for 13 hours by the immigration officials and was deported because of his skin colour.

Amreet Surana, who works for a UK security company, was held in Detroit while trying to catch a connecting flight to the firm's branch in Arizona.

The 24-year-old said that he had the relevant Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) form, which allows citizens of 38 countries, including most of Europe, to travel to the US without a visa.

"I believe I was profiled because of my appearance," Surana told the BBC.

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has not specified the reason for Surana's deportation but say that the ESTA did not guarantee a traveler would pass US border checks.

Surana, from Leicestershire in the Midlands region of England, said that he was stopped when he landed at Detroit Airport from Heathrow on January 17 and then sent to be interviewed by immigration officials.

He told them he worked as an international business manager for Nottingham-based Octavian and was visiting its US branch in Phoenix.

"In the space of 20 minutes they concluded that I was an illegal immigrant working in America, denying a US citizen a job," Surana claimed.

"I was threatened with fraud, I was threatened with banishment from the US and imprisonment. You feel dehumanised to the extent that you feel like a piece of dirt on the floor," he said.

He was then allegedly held for 13 hours, during which time his photograph and fingerprints were taken, and his belongings searched.

He was allowed to sleep in an unused interview room but was given little food or water, he claimed.

"The whole experience was traumatic, frightening, embarrassing, stressing and haunting for me and my family. I have never had a criminal record. I have an education and an international executive job. I wish this on nobody, he said.

In a statement, CBP said that it "firmly denies any claims that a traveler can be subject to an admissibility interview because of racial profiling.

"CBP is charged with inspecting all travelers regardless of nationality, race, sex, religion, faith or spiritual beliefs. Accusations of lengthy detentions by CBP are also incorrect.

"CBP officers offer food and water before boarding a return flight within eight hours of the traveller's arrival into the United States," the statement said.