Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 18 NATIONAL AFFAIRS February 13, 2026 ICE Database Flags 114 From India And Pakistan As U.S. Intensifies Deportations T he U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released a public database nam- ing thousands of undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions as part of an inten- sified federal deportation drive. While the database includes individuals from dozens of countries, this report focuses specifically on 114 South Asian na- tionals — 89 from India and 25 from Pakistan — due to its relevance to the South Asian community. The database, maintained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), identifies individuals arrested for serious offences ranging from sexual assault and drug trafficking to domestic violence, robbery, fraud, and money laundering. DHS has described the list as representing the “worst of the worst” offenders encountered during immigration enforcement operations. According to DHS, the enforcement actions reflected in the database were carried out under the leadership of Secretary Kristi Noem and are consistent with President Donald Trump’s stated priority of removing undocument- ed immigrants with criminal convictions from the United States. The database is publicly accessible through the department’s “Worst of theWorst” portal. DHS recently expanded the portal by adding 5,000 new profiles, bringing the total number of individuals listed to 25,000. The department emphasized that the data- base is a “snapshot” of arrests made by ICE and CBP and does not represent the entire undocumented immigrant population. “We are not stopping until every single one of these individuals is removed,” DHS said in a state- ment, adding that the public release is intended to provide transparency into federal immigration enforcement. “Americans should not be victimized by individuals who are not legally authorized to be in our country.” The announcement comes at a time of height- ened debate over immigration enforcement follow- ing recent ICE operations in Minneapolis that drew criticism after coinciding with the deaths of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Despite the controversy, DHS said its focus remains on individu- als it characterizes as violent or repeat offenders who are in the country illegally. DHS officials said the database will continue to be updated as enforcement efforts expand nationwide, underscoring the administration’s broader strategy of prioritizing removals based on criminal history rather than nationality. By a StaffWriter A Business Model That Respects Family, Festivals And Mental Peace I n Indian and many Asian cultures, success has never been measured solely by income. It is also defined by responsibility, family stability and presence. Being successful means showing up — not just as a provid- er, but as a parent, partner and community member. Yet a contradiction has long been accepted: To take care of family, one must sacrifice time with them. Long hours, constant stress and missed celebrations are often treated as unavoidable costs of building a business. Ex- haustion is worn as a badge of honor, rarely questioned. For years, I believed this was normal. I grew up with the assumption that business own- ers work around the clock and that entrepreneurship requires pressure without pause. Family life, I thought, had to adapt to business demands, not the other way around. In many of our communities, hard work is deeply respected, but its toll on mental health and relationships is rarely discussed. We say the struggle is “for the family,” even when the family sees us less and less. My perspective began to change when I entered the world of franchising. When my wife and I launched DNA Franchise Pro and I became part of the International Franchise Profession- als Group, I found myself in rooms filled with franchisors and franchise owners from diverse backgrounds. What stood out was not their revenue or scale, but their em- phasis on balance, structure and sustainability. Business conversations included discussions about planning vacations, protecting weekends and intention- ally scheduling family time. Conferences focused not only on growth targets, but on how to build businesses that could endure without burning out their owners. It was the first time I saw business ownership presented as something that did not require sacrificing personal well- being or relationships. This idea matters deeply in Indian and Asian fami- lies, where togetherness is central to life. Shared meals, religious rituals, weddings, festivals and weekly gather- ings are not optional extras. They are the fabric that holds families together. Traditional small businesses often make these mo- ments difficult. The owner becomes the system. If the owner steps away, operations slow or stop. Every absence carries stress and guilt. Franchising, by design, works differently. A franchise operates on established systems, processes and playbooks that have already been tested. Owners are not starting from scratch or improvising daily. Structure creates predictability, and predictability creates peace of mind. I watched franchise owners attend Diwali pujas, Eid celebrations, weddings, anniversaries and school events without panic — not because they worked fewer hours, but because their businesses were built to function with- out constant crisis management. The system supported them instead of consuming them. Another striking difference was how openly challenges were discussed. In many cultures, failure is hidden and struggle is kept private. In franchising environments, dif- ficulties are shared openly. At conferences, owners speak candidly about what went wrong, what they learned and how they corrected course. That collective knowledge reduces fear and isolation. The experience reinforced a simple idea: Growth is not always linear. Sometimes progress requires stepping back to move forward. Franchising acknowledges this reality and builds support around it. On a personal level, one of the most meaningful changes came through professional training with Mike Handy. Rather than focusing solely on revenue goals, he helped me design my day — frommorning routines and exercise to email blocks and defined work-ending times. This level of structure was unfamiliar to me, but it proved transformative. The result was not just improved productivity, but a better quality of life. My wife and I became closer because our time together became intentional rather than accidental. We began planning life instead of reacting to it. Meals became calmer. Conversations became deeper. Work no longer spilled endlessly into family time. For a culture that values partnership and togetherness, this shift was significant. What I ultimately came to understand is that franchis- ing is not just a business model. It is a lifestyle framework. It allows ambition and balance to coexist. It supports mental health, physical well-being and meaningful rela- tionships alongside financial growth. I did not embrace franchising solely because of its economic potential. I embraced it because it supports longevity — in business and in life. It leaves room for shared meals, laughter, family rituals and mental peace. It respects the idea that success should enhance life, not replace it. Festivals return every year, but time does not. Diwali dinners, Eid prayers, weddings, anniversaries and mo- ments like Valentine’s Day happen once in real time. They deserve presence, not postponed intentions. For Indian and Asian professionals considering busi- ness ownership, franchising offers a path that aligns with deeply held values: growth with structure, success with stability and ambition without burnout. At the end of the day, business matters. But family, festivals and mental peace are what make success truly meaningful. About the Author Pankaj Kumar is a global hospitality veteran, franchise consul- tant and entrepreneur. By Pankaj Kumar .PHOTO:REUTERS PHURBATENJING SHERPA PHOTO:COURTESY:DHS