Green Card Holder Detained By ICE
An Indian-origin woman who has lived in the United States for nearly three decades has been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), even though an immigration judge had dismissed the removal case against her months earlier.
Venkata Vasamsetty, a lawful permanent resident since 2013, was taken into ICE custody on August 11 after appearing for a scheduled check-in at an ICE office in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Her detention has raised questions about why she was taken into custody after the earlier immigration proceedings had been terminated.
Why Was She Facing Deportation?
The case began after Vasamsetty travelled to India in July 2022 to visit her seriously ill father.
While in India, she contracted COVID-19 and her return to the US was delayed. She eventually returned to America after spending slightly more than seven months outside the country.
US authorities subsequently alleged that her extended absence indicated that she had abandoned her permanent residency.
Vasamsetty disputed the allegation and provided evidence that her life remained firmly established in the United States.
She Had Strong US Ties
Her lawyers argued that Vasamsetty had maintained significant connections with the US throughout her time in India.
She continued to have a home, work and family ties in the country. She was also reportedly in the process of purchasing a home in North Carolina during her time abroad.
She is a teacher who works with special-needs children and has children and grandchildren who are US citizens.
Her lawyers have also said that she has no criminal record.
Immigration Judge Dismissed The Case
The immigration dispute continued for several years.
According to her attorney, the Department of Homeland Security was given a deadline to submit evidence supporting its claim that Vasamsetty had abandoned her permanent residency.
The government allegedly failed to meet that deadline.
On May 19, 2026an immigration judge dismissed the removal proceedings.
Her legal team maintains that the dismissal meant she remained a lawful permanent resident and was no longer facing those removal proceedings.
ICE Check-In Led To Detention
Despite the dismissal, Vasamsetty still had an ICE reporting requirement.
She appeared for a scheduled check-in at the Charlotte ICE office on August 11, accompanied by her daughter.
Instead of leaving the office, she was taken into custody.
Her attorney says she arrived with documentation showing that the immigration case had already been dismissed.
Vasamsetty was subsequently transferred to a detention facility in Georgia.
Government Filed A New Case
The situation became more complicated after her detention.
According to her legal representatives, DHS filed a new Notice to Appear after she was detained.
The new proceedings reportedly rely on the same circumstances surrounding her earlier return to the United States.
Her lawyers are challenging the detention in federal court and seeking her release.
Why Her Legal Team Is Angry
Vasamsetty’s attorneys argue that the government should not be able to revive essentially the same immigration dispute after an immigration judge had already dismissed the earlier case.
They also question why she was detained during a routine check-in despite having documentation relating to the dismissal.
However, the allegation that her detention was unlawful has not yet been established by a federal court.
The precise legal basis for ICE’s latest action remains a matter for the courts.
Family Says She Should Be Released
The case has attracted significant attention because of Vasamsetty’s long history in the United States.
She has reportedly lived in the country for more than 27 years, has a Green Card and works as a teacher.
Her daughter is also an immigration attorney, adding another unusual dimension to the case.
The family and supporters have launched a campaign calling for her release.
A Larger Immigration Debate
Vasamsetty’s detention comes as the Trump administration continues an aggressive immigration enforcement campaign across the United States.
The case highlights the uncertainty that can arise even for lawful permanent residents who spend extended periods outside America.
Green Card holders have important legal protections, but their permanent-resident status can still be challenged in certain circumstances, particularly when authorities allege abandonment or other grounds for removability.
Court Will Now Decide
Vasamsetty’s lawyers have filed an emergency habeas petition challenging her detention.
The federal court will now have to examine the circumstances surrounding her custody and the government’s new immigration proceedings.
For Vasamsetty’s family, the immediate priority is securing her release.
For the wider Indian-American community, the case has become another reminder that holding a Green Card does not necessarily eliminate the possibility of immigration enforcement or legal disputes.
Summary
Indian-origin US Green Card holder Venkata Vasamsetty has been detained by ICE after appearing for a scheduled check-in in North Carolina. She had previously faced removal proceedings after US authorities alleged that she abandoned her permanent residency by remaining in India for more than seven months during the COVID-19 pandemic. An immigration judge dismissed that case in May 2026. Her lawyers say she was nevertheless detained in August and that DHS subsequently initiated new proceedings. Her legal team is challenging the detention in federal court.
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