- Paramjit Singh, a 48-year-old Sikh US green card holder, has been detained since July 30.
- He suffers from a brain tumor and heart condition but is allegedly denied medical treatment.
- Authorities cited two old cases—a 1999 phone misuse charge and an alleged 2008 forgery.
- His family insists there are no active cases and claims mistaken identity.
His next court hearing is on 14 October, as his health worsens and deportation fears grow. Paramjit Singh, a 48-year-old Sikh man suffering from a brain tumor and a heart condition, has been detained by US immigration authorities for more than two months, with his family claiming he has been denied proper medical care and faces wrongful deportation.
Singh, who has held a US green card since 1994, lives in Indiana with his wife and two children, who are all US citizens. The family runs a chain of gas stations. He was detained on 30 July at Chicago O'Hare International Airport while returning from a trip to India and has since been held at a Clay County detention centre in Indiana.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reportedly cited two old criminal cases as the reason for his detention. However, Singh’s family and lawyer say there are no active cases against him. They allege that immigration officials are using outdated charges to delay his release and that he has not received adequate medical treatment for his serious conditions.
“Paramjit Singh is not getting the medical help he needs. He is only receiving basic check-ups,” his lawyer, Louis Angeles, told the BBC. ICE has not yet responded to these allegations.
Singh's niece, Kiran Virk, said he had travelled to India several times in the past without immigration issues. But this time, his family waited at the airport for seven hours before learning he had been detained over a 1999 case involving the use of a public phone without payment. Records show he served 10 days in jail and paid a $4,137.50 fine, but this conviction prevented him from becoming a US citizen.
According to Virk, authorities now claim Singh still faces a one-and-a-half-year sentence, which the family insists is false. Officials have also mentioned a 2008 forgery case in Illinois, which the family denies exists. A private investigator hired by the family reportedly found no such criminal record under his name, suggesting a possible case of mistaken identity.
Despite an immigration judge granting Singh release on a $10,000 bond, ICE allegedly cited the forgery charge to block his release. His lawyer plans to challenge the detention in court, calling it “unethical,” and is also seeking legal protection to prevent deportation.
Singh’s family says his health is worsening, as his second brain tumor surgery has been delayed due to his detention. Communication has been difficult because of limited phone access and his poor condition. His next hearing is scheduled for 14 October.
Singh’s case comes amid a broader crackdown on immigrants under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has pledged to deport what it calls the “worst of the worst.” Critics, however, say that even long-time residents without serious criminal records are being targeted.
In September, the deportation of 73-year-old Harjit Kaur, a grandmother who had lived in the US for over 30 years, sparked outrage within the Sikh community.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets the crowd as he arrives to attend the inauguration ceremony of phase one of the Navi Mumbai International Airport in Navi Mumbai on October 8, 2025. Getty Images 
Once fully operational, NMIA will transform Mumbai into one of the few multi-airport cities globally—joining the ranks of London, New York, and Tokyo. www.nmiairport.co.in