Indian-origin Green Card holder detained by ICE after 30 years in US

Venkata Vasamsetty, a long-time resident of the United States, was recently detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after spending 30 years in the country. As a Green Card holder, she was entitled to legal status in the US, yet she found herself in the unenviable position of being arrested without warning or notice.

Vasamsetty's story began in 1993 when she arrived in the US with her family. She has since become a teacher with the Wake County Public School System in North Carolina, owns a house, and is the mother to two US citizens. Vasamsetty's two daughters, along with her grandchildren, are also citizens of the US. Her family maintains that she has never been involved in any criminal activity and has not even received a speeding ticket throughout her 30-year tenure in the country.

In July 2022, Vasamsetty made a trip to India to visit her ailing father. While there, she contracted COVID-19 and was hospitalized in India for nearly two weeks. As a result of her absence, she was unable to return to the US until February 2023, a period during which she was detained by ICE at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. They informed her that her prolonged absence raised concerns about her intention to abandon her Green Card status.

Despite her clear intention to remain in the US, Vasamsetty was required to report to ICE's Charlotte office on a regular basis. She diligently attended every appointment and submitted all necessary documentation to prove her situation, but ICE did not cancel her court date. On May 19, 2026, a court finally ruled in her favor, stating that there was no evidence to support her removal.

However, when she arrived at her scheduled ICE appointment on July 11, she was detained by ICE despite her court order and the termination of her removal proceedings.

The incident has raised concerns about the potential consequences faced by lawful residents, even those with impeccable records, when they are detained without proper notice or consideration of their medical vulnerability. The case of Venkata Vasamsetty highlights the importance of protecting the rights of lawful permanent residents and ensuring that their legal status is not jeopardized by administrative errors or misunderstandings.