Judge Grants $7,500 Bond To Grandmother Held by ICE

India-West News Desk

CARY, NC – A judge has granted $7,500 bond to Venkata Vasamsetty, a longtime Green Card holder who was detained by ICE during an immigration check-in earlier this month.

Vasamsetty, who has lived in the United States for decades, has two U.S.-citizen daughters, U.S.-born grandchildren and a home in North Carolina. Her immigration case, however, remains unresolved, and the Department of Homeland Security can appeal the bond decision by September 24.

The case traces back to a trip to India during the Covid-19 pandemic, when Vasamsetty became ill, was hospitalized and remained there for more than six months. Her family has maintained that she never intended to abandon her U.S. permanent residency and said she won the legal case concerning that issue.

She was nevertheless detained August 11 after appearing for an immigration check-in.

At an August 25 bond hearing, DHS attorney Abby Cannon said Vasamsetty was not a danger to the community but argued that she posed a significant flight risk.

Her attorney, Helen Parsonage, said the India trips were largely to care for Vasamsetty’s aging parents, including her father before his death.

Parsonage argued that Vasamsetty was unlikely to flee, noting that she had previously appeared for immigration court hearings and ICE check-ins in an earlier removal case. She also has no criminal history.

Immigration Judge Chad Bayse agreed that Vasamsetty’s history of compliance weighed in her favor and found that DHS had not shown she would flee if released.

He also considered her longstanding U.S. ties, including her husband, daughters, grandchildren and home, as well as tax returns dating to at least 2012, business ties and her work as an elementary school substitute teacher.

Bayse found that some flight risk remained because Vasamsetty has the resources and history to travel internationally. He therefore set bond at $7,500 rather than the minimum amount.

As a condition of release, Vasamsetty must attend all future court hearings, comply with court orders and avoid arrests, illegal drugs and harmful contact with others.