Paramjit Singh, a 48-year-old US green card holder from India, has been detained by US immigration authorities for over two months. He has lived in the US since 1994 and resides in Indiana with his wife and two children, who are US citizens. Mr. Singh was detained on July 30 at Chicago O’Hare International Airport upon returning from a trip to India. His family and lawyer have stated that he faces potential deportation based on two decades-old legal cases, but they assert there are no active cases against him.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has cited a 1999 case involving Mr. Singh’s conviction for failing to pay for a public phone as grounds for his detention. He served ten days in prison and paid a significant fine, which has impeded his efforts to obtain US citizenship. Additionally, Mr. Singh’s family claims that ICE has referenced a forgery conviction from 2008, which they state does not exist. A private investigator hired by the family reportedly found no criminal records linked to him in Illinois, suggesting a possible mistake by authorities.
Mr. Singh’s health concerns include a brain tumor and a heart condition, and his family alleges that he is not receiving necessary medical treatment while in custody. Communication with him has been difficult due to limited access to phones at the detention center and his health status. His next court hearing is scheduled for October 14, where legal representatives plan to challenge his detention and prevent his deportation.
This case occurs in a context of heightened immigration enforcement in the United States. In a recent related incident, a 73-year-old woman was deported despite her long-term residence in the US, raising concerns regarding treatment of immigrants without serious criminal records.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2z7gkd87lo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss