A long-time Indian-origin US resident and Green Card holder has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), triggering concern among her family and supporters.
Venkata Vasamsetty has lived in the United States legally for around 30 years and has held a Green Card since 2013.
She works as a teacher with the Wake County Public School System in North Carolina, owns a home and has two US-citizen daughters and US-citizen grandchildren.
Her daughter, Yashaswini Vasamsetty, is an employment-based immigration attorney licensed in Texas and New Jersey.
The family says Venkata has no criminal record and has never even received a speeding ticket.
How Did the Case Begin?
The issue dates back to 2022, when Venkata travelled to India to visit her father, who was suffering from multiple medical problems.
She reportedly contracted Covid in November and had to remain in India longer than expected after being hospitalised for nearly two weeks.
She eventually returned to the US in February 2023, after spending around seven months outside the country.
Because Green Card holders who remain abroad for extended periods can face questions over whether they intended to abandon their US residency, immigration authorities raised concerns when she returned.
At Raleigh-Durham International Airport, the Department of Homeland Security reportedly questioned whether her long absence showed an intention to give up permanent residency.
Venkata denied this and maintained that she had always intended to return to the US. At the time, she was also reportedly in the process of buying a home in North Carolina.
Court Ruled in Her Favour
ICE later asked her to appear in immigration court and report regularly to its Charlotte office.
Her family says she attended every appointment and submitted documents explaining that her extended stay in India was caused by medical and family circumstances.
Eventually, an immigration judge ruled in her favour, finding that the government had not proved by clear and convincing evidence that she was removable on the grounds alleged.
On May 19, 2026, her removal proceedings were terminated.
But the trouble did not end there.
Detained During Routine ICE Appointment
Venkata still had an ICE appointment scheduled for July 11. Since the agency had not cancelled it, she reportedly attended with a copy of the court order.
She was allegedly told that ICE’s records had not yet been updated and was asked to return a month later.
When she went back for the August 11 appointment, she was detained.
She was later taken to the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia.
According to family friend Zoe Ji Wilson, Venkata was taken into custody without prior warning and without an opportunity to prepare.
Wilson also alleged that authorities detained her despite the earlier court order terminating her removal proceedings.
The family has raised particular concern over Venkata’s health, saying she is severely diabetic and did not have her insulin, medicines or other medical supplies with her when she was taken into custody.
Wilson further claimed that DHS filed a new Notice to Appear only after Venkata had already been detained.
‘Free Venkata’ Campaign Begins
Venkata’s family and supporters have now launched a “Free Venkata” campaign and are collecting signatures calling for her release.
They argue that her case raises serious questions about whether long-term lawful permanent residents can still face detention even after complying with immigration requirements and securing relief from an immigration judge.
For the family, the case is especially striking because Venkata had spent decades building her life in the US, had no criminal record and had followed the reporting requirements imposed on her.
Her detention has now become another example being cited in the growing debate over the scope of ICE enforcement and the protections available to legal permanent residents.
