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Indian-origin grandmother with Green Card detained by ICE after living in the US for 30 years. Her daughter is an immigr
🇮🇳 India /Culture & Society

Indian-origin grandmother with Green Card detained by ICE after living in the US for 30 years. Her daughter is an immigration attorney

From Times of India · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Venkata Vasamsetty, an Indian-origin woman with a Green Card, was detained by ICE after returning to the US following a seven-month stay in India due to COVID-19.
  • Vasamsetty has legally resided in the US for 30 years, holds a Green Card since 2013, has no criminal record, and is a teacher with a family.
  • Despite a court ruling in her favor terminating removal proceedings, she was detained at a subsequent ICE appointment due to an apparent record-keeping delay.

Venkata Vasamsetty, an Indian-origin woman who has lived legally in the United States for 30 years and held a Green Card since 2013, faces detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Her daughter, Yashaswini Vasamsetty, is an immigration attorney licensed in Texas and New Jersey, highlighting the complex legal circumstances surrounding her mother's case.

The family said that Venkata does not have any criminal records and not even a speeding ticket ever.

— Family of Venkata VasamsettyDescribing Venkata Vasamsetty's clean record.

Venkata Vasamsetty's ordeal began after a trip to India in July 2022 to care for her ailing father. She contracted COVID-19, requiring hospitalization for nearly two weeks and delaying her return to the U.S. until February 2023. This resulted in a seven-month absence from the U.S., which immigration authorities flagged as a potential abandonment of her residency.

An absence of more than six months from the US can raise questions about whether a permanent resident intended to abandon their US residence.

— Article ContextExplaining the immigration rule that led to Vasamsetty's detention.

Upon her return, U.S. Customs and Border Protection informed Vasamsetty of the extended absence. Although she was in the process of buying a house in North Carolina and had no intention of leaving the U.S., the prolonged stay raised concerns. ICE initially granted her an appearance date in immigration court and required regular check-ins.

But she was, at that time, in the process of purchasing a house in North Carolina and had no intention of going back to India.

— Article ContextHighlighting Vasamsetty's commitment to remaining in the US.

Her family has launched a 'Free Venkata' campaign, gathering signatures to support her case. They emphasize that Vasamsetty has no criminal record, not even a traffic violation. A court eventually ruled in her favor on May 19, 2026, terminating the removal proceedings. However, despite the court order, she was detained during a scheduled ICE appointment on August 11, 2026, apparently because ICE's records had not yet been updated to reflect the case's termination. She had attended a previous appointment on July 11, where she was asked to return a month later.

On May 19, 2026, the case against Vasamsetty was terminated and she was moved out of the removal proceedings.

— Article ContextStating the court's decision in Vasamsetty's favor.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Times of India. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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