Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Green Card Holder Detained During Routine ICE Check-In
Venkata Narsamamba Vasamsetty is a woman from an Indian-origin family who has lived in the United States for 27 years.
She has had a green card since 2013.
She went to India to care for her very sick parents.
Her family says she became ill with COVID-19 and could not return as planned.
She came back to the United States in February 2023 after about seven months away.
ICE detained her during a regular immigration check-in.
ICE says she may have given up her permanent-resident status by staying abroad for a long time.
Her lawyer says she has no criminal history, works as a teacher, and needs medical care.
A federal judge has asked immigration officials to explain why she is being held.
Venkata Narsamamba Vasamsetty was detained by ICE during a routine check-in.
She has lived in the United States for 27 years and held a green card since 2013.
Her family and attorney say she traveled to India to care for critically ill parents, then faced COVID-19 and other health complications.
ICE alleges she abandoned her lawful permanent residency after spending substantial time in India in 2022.
Her legal team filed an emergency habeas corpus petition, prompting a federal judge to seek the detention’s legal basis.
- Who
- Venkata Narsamamba Vasamsetty, a lawful permanent resident according to her attorney, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- What
- She was detained during a routine check-in despite her reported green-card status; ICE alleges she abandoned that status.
- When
- She returned to the United States in February 2023 and was detained on August 13, with the year not specified in the report.
- Where
- She returned through Raleigh-Durham International Airport and was later detained during an immigration check-in in the United States.
- Why
- ICE alleges that her extended stay in India caused her to abandon lawful permanent residency; her family says the trip was to care for critically ill parents and was prolonged by illness.
Family and Attorney
ICE and Government Position
Immigration status
Family and Attorney
Vasamsetty’s attorney says she has been a lawful permanent resident and green-card holder since 2013, with no criminal history.
ICE and Government Position
ICE alleges that Vasamsetty abandoned her lawful permanent residency after spending a substantial amount of time in India in 2022.
Reason for extended stay abroad
Family and Attorney
Her family and lawyer say she went to India to care for critically ill parents and was delayed by COVID-19 and other health complications.
ICE and Government Position
ICE’s stated position focuses on the length of her absence and alleges that it affected her permanent-resident status.
Possible release
Family and Attorney
Her legal team filed an emergency habeas corpus petition challenging the detention and seeking judicial review.
ICE and Government Position
The latest ICE filing reportedly did not acknowledge unlawful detention or order her release, but indicated she could receive a bond hearing depending on the court’s ruling.
- Length of U.S. residence
- 27 years
- Green card held since
- 2013, according to her attorney
- Time outside the United States
- About seven months before returning in February 2023
- Reason for India trip
- To care for critically ill parents
- Family
- Two U.S. citizen children and two U.S. citizen grandchildren
- Employment
- Public school teacher working primarily with special-needs students
- Medical condition
- Severe diabetes requiring glucose monitoring and medical care, according to her attorney
- Court action
- A federal judge ordered immigration authorities to explain the legal basis for her detention within three days