Paramjit Singh, a green card holder who immigrated to the United States from India more than 30 years ago, has been in federal custody for over a month after being detained by immigration agents in Chicago on July 30, according to his attorney.
Singh’s attorney Luis Angeles told Newsweek the detanment has been “nothing short of horrific” for him and his family.
Newsweek also reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment via email.
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump campaigned on mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, specifically targeting those with violent criminal records, and his administration ramped up immigration enforcement since his return to office in January. However, many Americans have been critical of his immigration policy as individuals with misdemeanors, decades-old infractions or in some cases no criminal records at all have been swept up in the heightened enforcement.
Singh’s case underscores the concerns raised by many immigration advocates about the administration’s approach to border security and deportations.
What to Know
Singh, a lawful permanent resident who operates a business in Fort Wayne, Indiana, was detained at Chicago O’Hare Airport on July 30 after he returned from a trip to India, his family and attorney told local news station WPTA. His family said he makes this trip several times per year.
Singh has a brain tumor and a heart condition and was kept inside the airport for five days. His condition deteriorated to the point where he had to be taken to the emergency room, the news station reported.
His family was not notified of the ER visit until they received a bill for his medical stay, Angeles told Newsweek.
Angeles said the alleged offense stems from an incident involving the use of a pay phone without payment, which he said is a “minor infraction for which he has already taken full accountability, served his time, and paid his debt to society.”
Efforts to secure his release have been “exhaustive but frustrating,” Angeles said.
“We filed for a bond redetermination and successfully won the bond hearing. However, DHS has continued to employ what I would describe as legal—yet arguably unethical—tactics to prolong his detention, despite being fully aware of his severe medical condition, which requires emergency surgery. The government is holding him without justifiable cause, exacerbating his health risks and causing immense distress to his family,” he said.
Several green card holders have been detained based on decades-old legal issues. A similar case that garnered national attention was that of Jemmy Jimenez Rosa, a Massachusetts mother who was held for 10 days based on a decades-old marijuana conviction. She was also taken to the hospital while being held in the airport without access to medication.
What People Are Saying
Angeles also told Newsweek: “As a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), Mr. Singh should never have been detained in the first place, as he has always followed the rules to the letter. We often hear the mantra of “follow the rules” to achieve legal status in this country. Well, that’s exactly what he did: he entered the United States lawfully, adjusted his status properly, built his American dream through hard work, and has been a significant contributor to his community.”
Singh’s brother, Charanjit Singh, told WPTA: “We’re just trying to post the bond, we’re just trying to speak to someone, trying to communicate with someone. We’re lost.
A Customs and Border Patrol spokesperson previously told Newsweek: “A green card is a privilege, not a right, and under our nation’s laws, our government has the authority to revoke a green card if our laws are broken and abused. Lawful Permanent Residents presenting at a U.S. port of entry with previous criminal convictions may be subject to mandatory detention and/or may be asked to provide additional documentation to be set up for an immigration hearing.”
What Happens Next
WPTA reported that Singh’s legal team filed an appeal and planned to seek immediate federal court review to challenge DHS’s continued detention decision, and that the family aimed to post bond while the federal challenge proceeded.
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