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An Arkansas resident, held for 30 days by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after officers mistook his perfume bottle labeled “Opium” for real opium, is now seeking to have his immigration standing reinstated after charges were dismissed.

Traffic Stop Results in Surprising Detainment

The individual, an Indian national married to an US citizen and pursuing American citizenship, was apprehended on May 3rd after law enforcement in a Benton suburb, Arkansas, stopped his vehicle for a minor traffic infraction, as stated by his attorney.

At the scene, police found a tiny fragrance container in his vehicle labeled “Opium” and took into custody the man for alleged drug possession, despite his assertion that the bottle contained fragrance and the name “opium” referred to the aroma.

“There was a container of opium in your console,” an officer informed Raghu. “Please have a seat.”

“I was obeying all rules when stopped. I had done nothing incorrect,” said Raghu, adding that he was delivering food when stopped.

Ashley Mays, Raghu’s spouse, arrived at the location and said, “I’m confused on why he’s going to jail.”

Lab Results Confirm Fragrance, Not Opium

State forensic experts concluded that the material in the container was perfume, and not opium, yet Raghu spent three days in the local detention facility, where officials found an procedural mistake indicating his immigration status had lapsed.

Immigration authorities then detained him and moved him to a federal immigration facility in a Louisiana location, where he was detained for one month.

“She used to call me every night,” he explained to media, talking beside his wife. “Crying, and my stepdaughter putting a Bible on her chest, crying. My stepdaughter was crying a lot. And she [Mays] was planning to sell her cars and move to some other country where we can live happily.”

Accusations Dismissed, but Immigration Status Is Still Uncertain

While accusations against him were dismissed by a judicial authority on May 20th, the ICE detainment created a setback in his path to becoming a permanent citizen.

In a fundraising effort to pay for attorney costs and basic expenses, it was stated that Raghu’s employment authorization was canceled.

“It is my understanding that, though released, Kapil now has a ‘deportation’ status, meaning he can be immediately deported for any minor offense, even jaywalking,” said a declaration by his legal counsel. “But, more crucially, this classification bars him from working and earning money for his family, which has been devastating for them.”

Legal Appeal Submitted to Resolve Visa Problems

The individual submitted a formal request to immigration authorities this recently, detailing his case and asking whether his immigration status could be resolved through proper legal channels.

His correspondence explained that his legal representative had “did not submit necessary documents on time before my visa lapsed, making me susceptible to my present circumstances.”

“My wife, who has always been my greatest support, is carrying the entire financial burden alone, as I am currently unable to work,” read the document by Raghu. “Increasing legal costs and my inability to provide have made family life very hard and difficult to handle.”

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, did not immediately provide a response regarding Raghu’s case.