– A Sikh man’s struggle with health and immigration issues underscores a troubling reality in the US immigration system. Paramjit Singh, a 48-year-old green card holder, has been detained for over two months while battling a brain tumor and a heart condition, raising urgent concerns about his medical care.
– Detained at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Mr. Singh was returning to Indiana after a visit to India when US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took him into custody. His family anxiously awaited his arrival, only to discover that he was being held due to alleged past offenses.
– Mr. Singh has faced accusations related to two decades-old cases. Despite having lived in the US since 1994 without major immigration issues, his family argues that these cases have no relevance to his current situation, and they believe they are being misused to prolong his detention.
– While his immigration lawyer, Louis Angeles, claims Mr. Singh is not receiving proper medical attention, he is only undergoing routine check-ups. This raises significant alarm, particularly given Mr. Singh’s critical medical conditions, including a swallowing difficulty stemming from his brain tumor.
– The reasons cited for Mr. Singh’s detention include an old case from 1999 concerning unpaid use of a public phone, for which he served a brief prison term and paid substantial fines. This has blocked his potential path to US citizenship, despite fulfilling the terms of his sentence long ago.
– Adding complexity, allegations of a forgery charge from 2008 have surfaced; however, Mr. Singh’s family firmly insists no such charge exists. They worry that immigration authorities have mixed him up with another individual, as investigations by a private detective revealed no criminal records matching his name in Illinois.
– Mr. Singh’s health has particularly deteriorated since his detention. His second surgery for the brain tumor has been postponed, and his family faces challenges in contacting him due to limited phone access within the detention center and his declining health.
– Efforts are underway to oppose his detention, with Mr. Angeles planning to challenge ICE’s actions, denouncing them as unethical. The family remains hopeful for a resolution, but stress is mounting as they worry about Mr. Singh’s health and the potential for deportation.
– This situation is reflective of broader issues within the US immigration system, which critics argue often targets individuals without significant criminal backgrounds, complicating the lives of families and communities. Recent similar cases, like that of a 73-year-old grandmother deported despite decades in the US, add to the unsettling narrative.
– As Mr. Singh’s case approaches a hearing set for October 14, the plight of many immigrants caught in such predicaments is increasingly coming to light, challenging the fundamentals of the US immigration policies under the current administration. His family continues to advocate for him, raising awareness of the inadequate support for those suffering in detention.