Venkata Vasamsetty, an Indian-origin woman who has legally resided in the United States for 27 years, was recently detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She has held a Green Card since 2013 and is a public school teacher working with special-needs students in North Carolina. Vasamsetty has a clean criminal record and is a mother and grandmother to US citizens.

On August 11, she was taken into custody during a scheduled ICE check in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is now being held at the Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia, which is over 500 kilometres from her place of detention. Reports indicate that her detention is connected to an ongoing dispute regarding her residency status after an extended trip to India in 2022.

Her case gained broader attention when her immigration attorney, Zoe Wilson, shared details on LinkedIn, emphasising that Vasamsetty has lived lawfully in the US for decades and has maintained her immigration status throughout her time in the country.

Reasons for Travel and Lengthy Absence

Venkata Vasamsetty travelled to India in July 2022 to care for her elderly parents. However, her return to the US was postponed due to health complications, including a Covid-19 infection that led to hospitalisation for nearly two weeks. Following her discharge, further medical issues delayed her journey back home. She ultimately returned to the US in February 2023, approximately seven months after her departure.

According to US immigration rules, Green Card holders are permitted to travel internationally, but extended absences may lead to scrutiny about their residency intentions. An absence of more than 180 days can prompt authorities to question whether an individual has abandoned their permanent residency status. US authorities alleged that Vasamsetty’s prolonged absence suggested such abandonment.

In response, Vasamsetty and her legal team have maintained that she had no intention of giving up her US residence, citing her ongoing ties such as home ownership in North Carolina and close family connections. A Change.org petition initiated by her supporters claims she was actively working towards purchasing a home in the area at the time of her travel.

Upon her return to the US, Venkata Vasamsetty was allowed to remain with her family while federal authorities pursued removal proceedings against her. She was required to report regularly to the ICE office in Charlotte. Supporters launched a Change.org petition, which garnered 3,388 verified signatures as of the time of reporting, highlighting her attendance at all required ICE appointments and the submission of documents proving her intentions to maintain her residency.

On May 19, an immigration judge terminated the removal proceedings against her, stating that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had not provided sufficient evidence to support their claims of removability. Nevertheless, despite the termination of her immigration case, Vasamsetty attended a scheduled ICE check-in on July 11, where she was informed that her records had not been updated and was asked to return the following month.

On her subsequent visit to the Charlotte ICE office on August 11, she was detained without prior notice or preparation. Reports indicate that she did not have access to her insulin or medical supplies at the time of detention, as she suffers from severe diabetes, and her medical needs were not adequately addressed during her time in custody.

Vasamsetty’s legal team has filed an emergency habeas corpus petition challenging her detention, and a federal judge has requested that immigration authorities provide justifications for her continued detention within three days. Vasamsetty’s case serves as an alarming example for others with lawful immigration status in the United States.

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