‘We're just trying to…’: How a phone call may be reason for an Indian-origin businessman getting detained by ICE

An Indian-origin businessman, Paramjit Singh, who has been a green card holder in America for over 30 years, has been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for more than a month. Singh, who has been doing business in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for three decades, was detained at Chicago O'Hare Airport in July while returning from a trip to India. The US government cited an incident from Singh's past where he used a pay phone to make a call without paying as the reason behind his detention. “We're just trying to post the bond, we're just trying to speak to someone, trying to communicate with someone. We're lost,” Paramjit's brother, Charanjit Singh, said to WPTA. He also noted that they are trying to post bond for his release. According to a report by Newsweek, Singh's attorney, Luis Angeles, said the detention is "absolutely illegal" and is putting Singh's health at risk, as he has a brain tumour and heart issues. Referring to the pay phone incident, Angeles said that it was a "minor infraction for which he has already taken full accountability, served his time, and paid his debt to society."Singh’s family said that after his detention, he was held at the airport for five days, during which his health worsened and he had to be taken to the emergency room. They were not informed about his condition and only learned of it when they received the ER bill.“As a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), Mr Singh should never have been detained in the first place, as he has always followed the rules to the letter. We often hear the mantra of "follow the rules" to achieve legal status in this country. Well, that's exactly what he did: he entered the United States lawfully, adjusted his status properly, built his American dream through hard work, and has been a significant contributor to his community,” Angeles added.