Paramjit Singh , a green card holder who has lived in the US for more than three decades, has been in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody for over a month after being stopped at Chicago O’Hare Airport on July 30.
Singh, who runs a business in Fort Wayne, Indiana, was returning from India when he was detained.
His lawyer, Luis Angeles, has called the move absolutely illegal and warned that keeping Singh locked up is worsening his fragile health as the businessman has a brain tumour and also suffers from heart problems.
Why was Singh arrested?
The reason for his arrest, according to his lawyer and family members, is a decades-old case where Singh once used a pay phone without paying.
Angeles described it as a “minor infraction for which he has already taken full accountability, served his time, and paid his debt to society.”
Health crisis
Family members say Singh was confined inside the airport for five days after being taken into custody. His condition deteriorated so badly that he was rushed to the emergency room.
They were not told about this at the time and only found out after receiving the hospital bill.
“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,” Angeles said.
Family desperate for answers
Despite winning his bond hearing, Singh is still being held. His brother Charanjit Singh told local channel WPTA that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was using tactics to prolong the detention.
“We're just trying to post the bond, we're just trying to speak to someone, trying to communicate with someone. We're lost,” he said.
Singh, who runs a business in Fort Wayne, Indiana, was returning from India when he was detained.
His lawyer, Luis Angeles, has called the move absolutely illegal and warned that keeping Singh locked up is worsening his fragile health as the businessman has a brain tumour and also suffers from heart problems.
Why was Singh arrested?
The reason for his arrest, according to his lawyer and family members, is a decades-old case where Singh once used a pay phone without paying.
Angeles described it as a “minor infraction for which he has already taken full accountability, served his time, and paid his debt to society.”
Health crisis
Family members say Singh was confined inside the airport for five days after being taken into custody. His condition deteriorated so badly that he was rushed to the emergency room.
They were not told about this at the time and only found out after receiving the hospital bill.
“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,” Angeles said.
Family desperate for answers
Despite winning his bond hearing, Singh is still being held. His brother Charanjit Singh told local channel WPTA that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was using tactics to prolong the detention.
“We're just trying to post the bond, we're just trying to speak to someone, trying to communicate with someone. We're lost,” he said.
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