- By Supratik Das
- Tue, 14 Oct 2025 11:23 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
An Indian-origin Sikh man, battling a brain tumour and a heart condition, has been held for over two months in US detention centre without adequate medical care, according to his family and lawyer.
Paramjit Singh, 48, a US green card holder and long-time resident of Indiana, was detained by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on July 30, upon returning from a trip to India. He has since been lodged at a Clay County detention centre in Indiana.
Singh, who immigrated to the United States in 1994, has lived there for more than three decades. His wife and two children are US citizens, and the family runs a chain of gas stations in Indiana.
Family Alleges Deliberate Delay
According to a report by the BBC, immigration authorities cited two decades-old cases to justify his detention. His family, however, maintains there are no active criminal cases against him and allege that the authorities are using outdated charges to delay his release.
Singh’s niece, Kiran Virk, said the 1999 case involved her uncle using a public phone without paying. Court records show that he served a 10-day jail sentence and paid a fine of USD 4,137.50. The conviction reportedly blocked his eligibility for US citizenship.
Immigration officials also cited a 2008 forgery case in Illinois, but the family contends that no such record exists. A private investigator hired by the family reportedly found no criminal record under the name Paramjit Singh in Illinois.
“Paramjit Singh is not getting the medical help he needs. He is only getting medical check-ups. We are also taking legal steps to block his deportation. His detention under these circumstances is unethical,” said Louis Angeles, Singh’s attorney, in a statement to the BBC.
Health Concerns Mount As Surgery Delayed
Singh’s health has deteriorated during his custody. His family said that his second brain tumour surgery, which was due earlier this year, has been delayed due to his continued detention. They claim that Singh was kept at the airport for five days before being transferred to the detention centre and had to be rushed to an emergency room at one point. “His condition is fragile, and we fear for his life. Communication with him is very limited, and the detention centre provides minimal medical assistance,” Ms Virk told the BBC.
Singh’s case comes amid a larger immigration crackdown under US President Donald Trump’s administration, which has intensified deportations, including of long-term residents. Officials have claimed the focus is on “the worst of the worst”, but community leaders say even lawful immigrants with minor or outdated offences are being targeted.
Last month, a 73-year-old Sikh grandmother, Harjit Kaur, who had lived in the US for over three decades, was deported to India after prolonged custody, sparking outrage among the Sikh community.