NEW DELHI: The U.S. regretted the impact of deportation of Indian students bound for two California schools and said it was closely following the situation after the incident, facts of which were still being collected.

The statement by the U.S. Ambassador Richard Verma came a day after India advised its students to defer their travel to the U.S. till the matterr of denial of entry to those students holding valid visas was resolved.

"The Embassy is aware of reports that some students bound for two California schools were denied entry by Customs and Border Protection. We regret the impact this may have had on certain students and their families."

"We are following this situation closely and have been in regular communication with the Department of Homeland Security, as well as the Government of India. Facts are still being collected," Verma said in a statement here.

He also maintained that the U.S. will continue to strongly support educational study and exchange programmes for Indian and U.S. students, as these programmes have been a hallmark of the bilateral relationship for decades.

External Affairs Ministry on Wednesday had issued an advisory noting that there have been several instances of denial of entry by the U.S. Immigration authorities to Indian students having valid student visas to pursue studies in two educational institutions, namely, Silicon Valley University at San Jose and Northwestern Polytechnic University, Fremont.

"Government of India has taken up this matter with the U.S. Government. We have asked the U.S. authorities to explain the reasons for denial of entry on a large scale to Indian students holding valid visas. The response of the U.S. Government is awaited. Till such time the matter is satisfactorily resolved, the students seeking admission in aforementioned two institutions are advised to defer their travel to the United States," the advisory had said.
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