Paramjit Singh, Green Card Holder, ICE Delays Brain Tumor Surgery

(FORT WAYNE, INDIANA) A longtime Indiana small business owner and lawful permanent resident, Paramjit Singh, has remained in ICE custody since July 30, 2025, after officers detained him at Chicago O’Hare Airport when he returned from India, according to his family and attorney. Singh, who has lived in the United States since 1994, faces urgent health needs, including a diagnosed brain tumor and serious heart conditions. His family says the detention has already delayed a planned second brain tumor surgery and has worsened his condition, including deteriorating eyesight.

Singh’s detention stems from two-decade-old cases, including an offense involving unpaid use of a payphone for which he served his sentence years ago. His family and attorney insist there are no active cases against him today, and they argue the government is relying on stale records to justify continued custody. Singh is a U.S. green card holder (lawful permanent resident) who runs a business in Fort Wayne and has U.S. citizen family members. He is currently held at the Kenton County Detention Center in Northern Kentucky.

Singh’s attorney, Luis Angeles, called the detention “absolutely illegal,” pointing to Singh’s lawful status and his long ties to Indiana. The legal team says Singh won a bond hearing, yet the Department of Homeland Security used legal but ethically questionable tactics to keep him in ICE custody—tactics they argue undercut the spirit of the court’s decision and threaten his health. The family says they are now appealing to federal courts for his release so he can undergo urgent medical treatment.

Medical risks and detention timeline

Family members say Singh’s health took a severe hit during the first days after his return, when he was held inside the airport for five days. During that period, his condition worsened to the point that he needed emergency hospital care—treatment the family says they only discovered after a bill arrived in the mail.

Since then, they report mounting concerns:
– Eyesight is fading.
– A scheduled second brain tumor surgery was postponed.
– Ongoing heart complications persist.

In immigration detention, timely access to specialized care can be difficult. ICE relies on the ICE Health Service Corps for clinical services and referrals. The agency’s own materials say detainees should receive medically necessary care, including offsite specialty treatment when needed. Readers can review ICE’s public guidance on detention healthcare through the ICE Health Service Corps. Singh’s family, however, says real-world practice has fallen short, and the delay in surgery has placed him at risk of permanent harm.

Family accounts describe additional barriers caused by prolonged detention:
– Distance from treating physicians and regular hospitals.
– Uncertainty about scheduling advanced procedures.
– Stress and delays arranging transfer of medical records and specialist access across state lines.

For a patient with a brain tumor and cardiac issues, time-sensitive coordination is critical. The legal team argues that continued ICE custody makes proper care impossible.

“The delay in surgery has placed him at risk of permanent harm,” relatives say, stressing the urgency of timely treatment.

Legal questions and community response

Singh’s case raises difficult questions about using old convictions or minor offenses to detain long-term lawful residents. Immigration law allows the government to place a noncitizen—including a green card holder—into removal proceedings based on certain past offenses. Advocates say this power is too often used to detain people whose lives are firmly rooted in the United States.

In Singh’s case:
– The triggering conduct dates back decades.
– The incident involved a minor matter that has long been resolved.
– The family and attorney say there is no current basis for continued detention—especially after a bond hearing they say Singh won.

Angeles and the family contend DHS has relied on procedural steps to prolong custody even as Singh’s health worsens. They emphasize Singh’s strong ties to Fort Wayne—his business and U.S. citizen relatives—as evidence he would appear for future hearings if released.

Community reaction in Fort Wayne includes:
– Local neighbors and supporters pressing for urgent medical release.
– Faith leaders and small business owners questioning why a man with a serious brain tumor remains in detention when community supervision options exist.

VisaVerge.com reports that cases like Singh’s often hinge on how agencies weigh past conduct against present equities, such as health and family ties. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, long-term residents with serious medical conditions can sometimes secure release under supervision when lawyers present clear medical documentation and a verified treatment plan.

Legal strategy and recommended steps

The family says their legal strategy now focuses on federal court intervention, asking a judge to order immediate release for medical care. They also plan to seek safeguards that would allow Singh to continue his treatment plan without interruption, including specialist access and surgery scheduling.

Supporters emphasize that releasing Singh would not end the immigration case; it would allow him to continue treatment in the community while his case proceeds.

Common recommendations attorneys give families in similar situations:
1. Gather comprehensive medical records and letters from treating physicians outlining the immediate need for care and the risks of delay.
2. Document long-term residence, work history, and family ties to demonstrate strong community roots.
3. Prepare a clear plan for medical follow-up, including names of specialists and scheduled appointments.
4. Seek court review promptly if detention continues after a favorable bond ruling or if medical needs are not met.

Human impact and calls for transparency

Singh’s relatives describe the human toll:
– Constant worry about the risk of another seizure.
– Fatigue from repeated calls to detention staff and medical units.
– Fear that each passing week reduces the chance of a good surgical outcome.

They also express confusion and frustration that a decades-old minor offense could outweigh present-day medical urgency for a lawful permanent resident who has lived in the U.S. for more than 30 years.

ICE has not publicly detailed the reasons for Singh’s continued detention beyond reference to past cases, according to the family and attorney. Advocates argue that transparency is essential, especially when detention directly affects urgent healthcare.

Legal observers note that cases involving serious illness often test how policy is implemented:
– Do medical review processes move quickly?
– Do bond decisions lead to timely release?

Current status and community hopes

As of now, Singh remains in Kenton County Detention Center (Northern Kentucky) custody while his legal team pursues relief in federal court. His family continues to press for immediate release, saying a hospital is ready to perform his delayed brain tumor surgery if he can return to Indiana.

They say he wants to:
– Go home,
– See his doctors,
– Continue fighting his immigration case from the community he has called home since 1994.

Supporters in Fort Wayne hope Singh’s case prompts a broader review of how ICE handles detainees with life-threatening conditions. They ask why, in a system with alternatives to detention, a man with a brain tumor remains in a county jail, waiting.

For them, the stakes are personal: the life of Paramjit Singh—a green card holder, a father, and their neighbor.