NEW YORK: A Sikh man who had fought asylum in the US 20 years back, has been detained by immigration authorities in California after losing his latest appeal over a deportation order. Taxi driver from Punjab, Gurmukh Singh, who had sneaked into the US without a visa through the Mexico border in 1998, was taken into custody last week after failing to get a stay in his deportation case, as the Trump administration clamps down undocumented immigrants.
Married to a US citizen, the 46 year old had applied for asylum in the US in 1999, citing religious persecution. He had checked in with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Santa Ana, as required for individuals with final deportation orders who have been released under supervision. However, the ICE said courts at all levels have upheld his removal order, leading to him being detained. Singh told reporters he was “very nervous”. After he had applied for asylum, his case was moved to an immigration court, but his previous counsel did not notify him in advance of his court date in 1999 and failed to prepare him. A judge had then ordered his deportation.
His wife Balwinder Kaur became a US citizen in 2010 and then applied for him to become a legal permanent resident in 2012, which is when he found out he had a deportation order on his record. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement had detained Singh in 2013 for five months, based on the prior deportation order.
“I would be broke, the family separated and we're not supposed to be separated.” the father of two said. “I would be depressed. What would happen to their future, my future?” his oldest, Manpreet Saini, 18, said. “The look on his face told me there was nothing that could be done. He breaks down. He's crying. I've never seen him cry like that.”
It currently remains unclear whether Singh will be detained. The ICE released a statement saying, “While criminal aliens and those who pose a threat to public safety will continue to be a focus, DHS will not exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement. All those in violation of our nation's immigration laws may be subject to arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States.”
