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Indian-origin green card holder grandmother detained by ICE
Vasamsetty, who works with children with special needs in the Wake County Public School System in North Carolina, has held a U.S. green card since 2013.
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Staff Reporter - Mon, 17, Aug 2026
- 23:59 EDT
- 64
Venkata Vasamsetty / CHANGE.ORG
Venkata Vasamsetty, an Indian-origin grandmother who holds a green card, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) despite an immigration judge having terminated her deportation case earlier this year, according to her family and supporters.
Vasamsetty, a lawful permanent resident who has lived in the United States for nearly three decades, was detained by ICE on Aug. 11, 2026.
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Vasamsetty, who works with children with special needs in the Wake County Public School System in North Carolina, has held a U.S. green card since 2013. She is also a homeowner, mother and grandmother, with children and grandchildren who are U.S. citizens.
Vasamsetty has held a green card since 2013, owns a home, pays her taxes and has no criminal record, according to a petition on Change.org.
In 2022, Venkata traveled to India to care for her ill father, and her return was delayed after she contracted COVID-19. When she returned to the United States, DHS accused her of abandoning her residency. But Venkata never intended to leave behind her home, livelihood or family. She attended every required ICE appointment, and when the U.S. Department of Homeland Security failed to provide evidence in court, an immigration judge dismissed her case on May 19, 2026, allowing her to keep her green card.
Even after the case was dismissed, ICE failed to update its records. Venkata continued reporting as instructed, bringing a copy of the judge’s order with her. On Aug. 11, 2026, she went to the Charlotte ICE office with her daughter and was detained instead of being released from further check-ins.
Her family was left scrambling for answers as she was taken to the Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia, despite her Type 2 diabetes and need for regular insulin.
Her family and supporters are now calling for her immediate release, arguing that her detention should be reviewed in light of the immigration judge’s May 19 decision.
“The legal dismissal of her immigration case should have ensured her freedom, yet this oversight persists. It's crucial to address this grave error immediately, not just for Venkata, but for the principles of justice and humanity,” the petition said.
“We are calling on ICE to release Venkata Vasamsetty, respecting the lawful ruling and allowing her to return to her vital roles in her family and our community,” it said.
They are also urging community leaders, elected officials and members of the public to support a petition seeking her release.
The case has drawn attention among members of the Indian American community, who say Vasamsetty’s situation raises broader questions about due process, immigration enforcement and the treatment of longtime lawful permanent residents.
The allegations regarding her detention, medical care and ICE’s handling of her case are based on information provided by her family and supporters.
A GoFundMe campaign, “Help Free Venkata Vasamsetty,” has been launched by the family to help other uprooted families.
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