ICE Jails Kunal Oberoi Weeks Over Old Marijuana Charge

Key Takeaways

• Kunal Oberoi lost his green card after ICE detained him over a 2018 marijuana misdemeanor upon reentry to the US.
• U.S. immigration law considers old controlled substance convictions grounds for inadmissibility, detainment, or even deportation for green card holders.
• Legal experts warn any criminal record—no matter how minor or old—can now trigger ICE detention due to zero-tolerance policies.

Kunal Oberoi, a longtime resident of the United States 🇺🇸 and a legal permanent resident with a green card, found himself in a situation that many green card holders might never expect. Despite more than two decades in the country, a marriage to a U.S. citizen, and raising U.S.-born children, he was suddenly taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The reason was a years-old marijuana charge. Kunal Oberoi’s story draws attention to the risks faced by people in his situation—those holding green cards—especially under strict immigration enforcement policies.

How a Past Marijuana Charge Changed Everything

The events that led to Kunal Oberoi’s detention started as a simple family trip. On January 9th, after coming back from India with his family, he landed at Detroit Metro Airport. ICE agents stopped and questioned him about a 2018 misdemeanor charge for marijuana use. At that moment, Oberoi could not recall the details. ICE took away his green card and asked him to return later with official police documents about his record.

Keeping his promise, Kunal Oberoi returned on February 3rd, as asked, and brought the paperwork explaining his record. These documents included a misdemeanor marijuana charge and an even older assault charge from when he was just 18. However, rather than accept his paperwork quietly, ICE agents immediately took him into custody. They sent him to the Calhoun County Correctional Facility where he would remain for almost two months. It was only after this lengthy period—detained, away from his family and regular life—that Oberoi was finally released.

As told to reporters, the experience shattered his sense of safety. Despite being a supporter of President Trump, whose promise to “get tough” on crime and immigration had won the support of many, Oberoi felt betrayed by the system he once backed. “They put me through a lot,” he said after his release. For now, he hopes only “to forget about what happened…and stay out of trouble.”

The Law: Why a Green Card Holder Can Be Detained for an Old Charge

Kunal Oberoi’s story is, in many ways, a cautionary tale. Under U.S. law, any criminal record involving a controlled substance—like marijuana—can make a green card holder “inadmissible” to the country. In simple words, this label means that even someone who has lived in the United States 🇺🇸 for decades can face detention, lose their legal status, or even be forced to leave the country just because of a drug-related conviction, no matter how minor or old.

This became even more important after President Trump took office. Under his “zero-tolerance” policy, ICE officers do not ignore small or old offenses. Instead, they look back through a person’s full record during reentry or border checks. Even a single old misdemeanor can be enough to trigger a detention, as happened in Oberoi’s case. Immigration lawyers point out that this is not simply about following the law, but about the government’s decision to enforce every part of the law as strictly as possible.

Many green card holders might believe they are safe if their past convictions are minor, old, or have been officially resolved. However, U.S. immigration law treats controlled substance convictions as very serious, regardless of whether the conviction was for personal marijuana use and not for a violent or repeat offense.

For a breakdown of current immigration policies and the grounds for inadmissibility, people can examine details shared on the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) page for Green Card holders, which covers the rights and responsibilities and what might lead to losing one’s permanent residency.

Kunal Oberoi’s Family and Their Feelings

Kunal Oberoi’s detention did not only affect him. His wife—who is a U.S. citizen—was also deeply upset and confused by how fast things changed. She told reporters that after supporting President Trump’s tough-on-crime message, she truly believed they were safe as a family. This feeling of shock is shared by other families in similar situations.

For Oberoi’s children, who were born in the United States 🇺🇸 and have only known America as their home, the experience of seeing their father detained for so long was likely confusing and painful. The family had traveled together, expecting only to enjoy a visit to India and come back home. Instead, they faced months of worry, disruption, and uncertainty.

ICE Procedures and Green Card Holders

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has the power to detain not just undocumented immigrants but also legal permanent residents if certain criminal convictions are found in their records. Since the Trump administration’s shift, ICE has ramped up screening procedures at all ports of entry and during background checks. This has led to more green card holders like Kunal Oberoi being stopped for older or minor violations.

Lawyers specializing in immigration stress that this is not a small change in policy. Previously, minor or nonviolent convictions—especially from many years ago—were often not enforced so harshly. Now, any record, no matter how small or old, can lead to detention.

Lawyers also warn green card holders to think hard before traveling outside the country if they have any record of legal trouble, even incidents that might seem too small or long-ago to be important. This applies not just to marijuana charges, but to any kind of criminal history—sometimes even if the charge was dismissed.

Nationwide Impact and Similar Cases

The attention drawn by Kunal Oberoi’s case is not just about one family. Across the United States 🇺🇸, ICE has stepped up enforcement against other green card holders. In many places, reports have surfaced of people with minor or nonviolent offenses detained when they return to the country after traveling abroad.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, such detentions come as a surprise to many who believed in following the rules or who had taken steps to clear up any old legal issues. Many do not realize that a misdemeanor marijuana charge—even from years ago—still counts as a “controlled substance conviction” in the eyes of U.S. immigration officers.

Statistical analysis and reporting from several trusted sources like TRAC Reports and national media outlets show that ICE actions against green card holders have increased since the start of the “zero-tolerance” approach. This approach means that enforcement is carried out even when the original conviction is old or appears minor compared to more severe crimes.

For example, cases like Kunal Oberoi’s have been reported in other states. One notable case involved a green card holder from New Hampshire who was stopped and interrogated at Logan Airport before being detained by ICE due to old drug-related charges. These stories share the same pattern: travel abroad, return to the United States 🇺🇸, and face sudden, unexpected detention due to past misdemeanors.

Legal Advice Shifts as Policy Tightens

Lawyers who help green card holders and other immigrants now give much stronger warnings than before. Their message is simple: if you have any criminal record—no matter how old or minor—avoid international travel unless you have legal advice confirming it is safe.

This new advice marks a change from previous years when small or resolved offenses did not often put permanent residents at great risk. Now, lawyers tell their clients that the “zero-tolerance” environment may put them in danger if they travel, as border agents are more likely to dig into any detail of their history and act on it.

Much of this change is due to stricter rules and the pressure on federal officers to use every available tool when enforcing immigration control. Lawyers say this policy has affected many families, including people who have built lives in America for decades and thought their records would not matter anymore.

Public Discussion on Proportionality and Fairness

The case of Kunal Oberoi has also pushed a public debate about what is fair and reasonable in enforcing laws that affect green card holders. Critics of the current policy question if it is fair for a person like Oberoi, who has worked, paid taxes, and lived in the United States 🇺🇸 for over 20 years, to be threatened with detention and possible deportation over a single marijuana charge from the past.

Supporters of tough policies argue that the law is clear and that everyone should know and follow the rules. They say that a conviction, even for marijuana use, is still against U.S. immigration law and should be enforced as written.

However, opponents argue that not all offenses are equal and that the law should consider whether a crime is serious, violent, or puts the public at risk. Many point out that some states have even legalized marijuana in recent years, so a conviction from a few years ago might not even be a chargeable crime in those states today.

Families affected by these rules, like the Oberois, often feel caught in the middle—caught between wanting to follow the law and feeling shocked by how harsh the consequences can be for mistakes made long ago.

Key Takeaways and Future Outlook

Kunal Oberoi’s story is a warning for all green card holders. It highlights that something as simple as an old marijuana charge can bring unexpected problems, including time in detention, loss of status, or even the risk of deportation.

The policy chosen by federal officers—as seen in Oberoi’s case—means that anyone on a green card with any kind of criminal history must be very careful. International travel, something often taken for granted, can suddenly turn into a legal risk.

For green card holders:

• Always check your legal status and criminal record before traveling internationally.
• Speak to a qualified immigration lawyer if you are unsure about your record.
• Remember that even old or minor convictions—such as a misdemeanor marijuana charge—may cause serious problems on reentry.

For the broader public and policy makers, Kunal Oberoi’s situation has sparked further debate. Should the letter of the law always outweigh a person’s years of good living and their ties to the country? Should the same rules apply to everyone, regardless of the crime’s age, seriousness, or the changing attitudes about marijuana across many U.S. states?

As the debate continues, it is clear that current rules can have major and sometimes unexpected effects on families who may think they are fully settled in the United States 🇺🇸. It is a vital reminder that U.S. immigration law has many rules that can be enforced strictly, even against those who consider themselves law-abiding residents or who have taken an active part in American civic life.

For more information about how drug offenses impact immigration status and for those seeking advice, you can visit the official USCIS page on rights and responsibilities for permanent residents.

Recap Table: Main Facts

To sum up, the detention of Kunal Oberoi by ICE over a years-old marijuana charge is not an isolated event. Instead, it highlights a larger trend of strict immigration enforcement that affects many green card holders. It shows the risks present in current rules, especially for those with any kind of criminal record—even minor or nonviolent ones—from the past. This situation underscores the need for all green card holders to stay informed and careful about their legal status, and for policy makers and the public to consider the effects of these rules on long-term residents and their families.

Learn Today

Green Card → A document granting lawful permanent residency in the United States, allowing work and long-term residence.
Controlled Substance Conviction → A legal ruling finding someone guilty of possessing or using regulated drugs, like marijuana, affecting immigration status.
Inadmissibility → A legal status barring entry into the U.S., often due to criminal convictions or violations of immigration law.
Zero-Tolerance Policy → A strict enforcement approach where all offenses, regardless of size or age, are acted upon.
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) → A U.S. federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws, including detaining and deporting certain non-citizens.

This Article in a Nutshell

A simple family trip turned into a nightmare for Kunal Oberoi, a green card holder detained by ICE over an old marijuana charge. His story illustrates how even minor past convictions can threaten legal status, especially with tougher immigration enforcement. Green card holders must carefully review legal risks before traveling abroad.
— By VisaVerge.com

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