First, list of detected linkable resources in order of appearance:
1. ICE Online Detainee Locator System (uscis_resource) — mentioned in body under “Practical Guidance for Families”
2. ICE Online Detainee Locator System (form) — same resource, another mention
3. VisaVerge.com (policy) — mentioned under “Broader Implications and Calls for Reform”
I will add only verified .gov links for the first mention of each resource in the article body, up to the maximum of 5 links. No other changes will be made.
(CHICAGO, ILLINOIS) A 62-year-old green card holder, Paramjit Singh, remains in ICE custody more than a month after his arrest at O’Hare Airport on July 30, 2025, over a decades-old minor infraction tied to the unpaid use of a payphone. His attorney says he already served his time and paid his debt, yet he was held at the airport for five days, transferred between two detention facilities, and hospitalized when his health sharply declined.
A judge later granted him eligibility for bond, but his family says they still cannot secure his release due to delays and procedural hurdles. According to Singh’s legal team, the case raises urgent questions about how immigration enforcement treats long-term lawful permanent residents with old, minor offenses, and how those in detention receive medical care.
He has lived in the United States for more than 30 years, is a father to U.S.-born children, and has serious health problems, including a brain tumor and heart issues. His attorney, Luis Angeles, calls the ongoing detention “absolutely illegal” and accuses ICE and the Department of Homeland Security of using “court tactics” to stretch out the process even after a bond decision.
Arrest and Early Detention
The arrest at O’Hare Airport came as Singh returned from India. In the days that followed, his family says they were left largely in the dark. They learned he had been taken to the emergency room only when a hospital bill arrived.
Key points about the initial detention:
– Held at O’Hare Airport for five days after the July 30 arrest.
– Hospitalized after health sharply declined; family says they were not notified at the time.
– Later transferred between facilities — first to Indiana, then to Kentucky — complicating communication and care.
These early events have intensified public concern, especially among other long-term residents who fear that old, low-level matters could trigger similar detention.
Health Crisis and Detention Timeline
Singh’s family reports that airport detention worsened his existing medical conditions. As his brain tumor and heart problems became more serious:
– He was taken to the emergency room (family discovered this via a bill).
– After the ER visit, he spent about 20 days in an Indiana detention facility.
– He was then transferred to a detention center in Kentucky.
Advocates warn that prolonged confinement can be dangerous for people with serious medical conditions, particularly when conditions require constant monitoring and continuity of care. Singh’s supporters say each day in ICE custody increases the risk to his health, and that detention is inappropriate given the nature and age of the underlying infraction.
“We’re just trying to post the bond, we’re just trying to speak to someone, trying to communicate with someone. We’re lost,” — Charanjit Singh, Paramjit’s brother, summarizing the family’s struggle to move the bond process forward.
Legal Fight and Policy Stakes
A judge has granted Singh eligibility for bond — ordinarily a step that would clear the way for release once payment and conditions are met. Yet Singh’s attorney says DHS and ICE have slowed the process through rule-bending and legal maneuvering, leaving him in custody despite the bond decision.
The legal strategy and broader stakes:
1. The legal team is preparing to take the fight to federal court, seeking immediate release and a broader challenge to DHS’s handling of the arrest and bond procedures.
2. Supporters frame the case as an example of a wider pattern: lawful permanent residents with minor, historical offenses being detained and held despite strong community ties.
3. The central arguments for release:
– Long residence in the U.S. (30+ years)
– Family ties (father of U.S.-born children)
– Serious, ongoing medical needs (brain tumor, heart issues)
– The underlying infraction was decades-old and nonviolent
Immigration attorneys and advocacy groups emphasize fairness and proportionality: a nonviolent, minor infraction from many years ago should not lead to prolonged detention, especially when penalties were already served and the person has since lived law-abidingly.
Concerns About Medical Care, Notification, and Transfers
Family and advocates raise several interrelated concerns:
– Lack of timely family notification about medical emergencies (family learned of ER visit via a bill).
– Inter-facility transfers that create instability and make medical coordination harder.
– Transfers can also complicate legal representation, forcing lawyers to track clients across state lines and adapt to new facility rules.
These points underscore why supporters argue that stability and prompt care should be prioritized for detainees with fragile health.
Government Response and Transparency
Officials at DHS have cited the old case as the basis for detention but have not publicly commented on the details of Singh’s medical crisis or on the claimed bond delays. That silence has increased concerns among families and legal advocates who say they struggle to obtain clear, timely information while a loved one remains detained.
Singh’s attorney continues to push for transparency and expedited release, arguing that the government’s approach is both unnecessary and harmful.
Broader Implications and Calls for Reform
Advocates warn the case has implications beyond one person:
– It could create fear among long-term residents who have minor historical issues, even if resolved years ago.
– It raises questions about whether detention is being used as a default in cases where medical needs are pressing and the underlying offenses are minor.
– Calls for reform include:
– Clearer limits on detaining green card holders for old, minor infractions
– Stronger safeguards for timely medical care and family notification
– Improved transparency in bond and transfer processes
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the outcome of Singh’s case could influence how similar cases are handled, especially when a lawful permanent resident has deep ties to the country and serious health needs. A federal court challenge may test how far DHS can go when detaining long-term residents for minor, historic offenses and what procedural steps are required after a judge grants bond.
Practical Guidance for Families
For families trying to track a loved one in detention, official tools can assist with status checks:
– The ICE Online Detainee Locator System lists where a person is currently held and can support legal coordination and family contact.
– The government tool is available here: ICE Online Detainee Locator System.
Families often pair that tool with outreach to legal organizations for help with next steps.
Current Status (as of September 18, 2025)
- Singh remains in ICE custody.
- He was held five days at O’Hare Airport at the start.
- He was hospitalized and subsequently moved between Indiana and Kentucky facilities.
- A judge has granted a path to bond, but he is still detained due to delays and procedural hurdles.
- The legal team is preparing a federal court filing, and the family continues to press for answers and release.
Key Takeaways
- This case highlights a tension between immigration enforcement and the rights, health, and stability of long-term residents.
- Advocates argue that minor, decades-old infractions should not result in prolonged detention, especially for those with serious medical conditions and deep U.S. ties.
- The family’s immediate goal remains to post bond and secure Singh’s release, while the legal team prepares to escalate the matter if DHS does not resolve the bond process promptly.
The human impact is stark: a 62-year-old man with a brain tumor and heart issues has spent weeks in custody despite a judge allowing bond. Families and advocates argue that each additional day in detention raises serious medical and human-rights concerns that cannot be overlooked.
This Article in a Nutshell
Paramjit Singh, a 62-year-old lawful permanent resident, remains in ICE custody after his July 30, 2025 arrest at O’Hare Airport tied to a decades-old unpaid payphone infraction. Singh has lived in the U.S. more than 30 years, is a father of U.S.-born children, and suffers serious health problems, including a brain tumor and heart issues. He was held five days at the airport, hospitalized, and then detained about 20 days in Indiana before transfer to Kentucky. Although a judge granted bond eligibility, Singh remains detained because of delays and procedural obstacles. His legal team plans federal litigation, while advocates call for clearer limits on detaining long-term residents for minor historical offenses and stronger safeguards for medical care and family notification. Families are advised to use the ICE Online Detainee Locator and seek legal assistance to coordinate bond and representation.
