Jordan Brown, 36, who is also an American citizen, was detained by Indian security officials as he tried to enter Nepal without valid travel documents.
Police were investigating his identity, travel history, and purpose of his journey, his home country, his family has said in a statement.
Brown was caught by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) near the Sonauli border at Maharajganj district, a major transit point in Uttar Pradesh that connects India and Nepal.
Security personnel intercepted him during routine border surveillance after he was found moving toward Nepal through an unauthorized route instead of an official immigration checkpoint.
Who is Jordan Brown
Brown said he was a California resident and that he had been in the US Navy. He also told investigators he had traveled to more than 70 nations, which is being verified by diplomatic and intelligence sources, officials said.
Even then, authorities have not yet confirmed his military background or travel history. The US Embassy has been informed as Indian agencies continue to identify and verify his identity and his information, he said.
Brown's Version of Events
Brown went to Thailand on a tourist visa and lost his passport, he said. He claimed that after leaving Thailand, he reached Sri Lanka by sea before entering India via sea route in late 2025.
Brown also told investigators that he spent several months in Goa before traveling north toward the India-Nepal border. Government officials will now look at immigration records, travel documents, and other evidence to see if his account fits in with official records.
Investigators are also looking into how he entered India without valid documentation and if he may have used unofficial routes during his journey.
Why was he detained
Brown was detained because he was caught as he tried to cross the India-Nepal border by an unauthorized way without a valid passport or visa, security officials said. Indian immigration laws have stated that foreign travelers have to have passports and have been allowed to enter or leave the country with valid travel documents and are required to go to immigration checkpoints.
After Brown’s arrest, he was handed over to the local police, and central intelligence and immigration authorities have since conducted a wide investigation into his background.
#WATCH | Maharajganj, UP: An American citizen, identified as Jordan Brown from California, was arrested by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) near the Sonauli India-Nepal border on July 11.
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) July 13, 2026
(Source: Police Media Cell) pic.twitter.com/RjV1Lwxl0o
No Evidence of Wrongdoing yet
They say that there is no evidence of Brown being involved with espionage, terrorism, or any anti-national activity at present. But because of the discrepancies in his information and the lack of proper travel documents, authorities are going to verify everything about it, they said.
This will involve the investigation to verify his identity, history of military service, and international travel records with the U.S. authorities.
Investigation Continues
Brown’s unusual travel claims and circumstances had drawn widespread attention because of those. And while there are some questions which remain unanswered, officials have advised against drawing conclusions until the investigation is complete.
Jordan Brown remains in police custody for the time being as Indian authorities continue to investigate his movements and how he entered the country, and why he attempted to cross into Nepal without proper documentation.
