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After his release, Walia shared his experience during detention through videos and social media posts. He said that while living there, he often felt scared, disappointed and helpless, but the support of his family, lawyer, girlfriend and the music community gave him courage.

Released after 14 days of custody

According to Walia, after reaching Los Angeles, he was suddenly taken into custody. After this he was kept in ICE custody. After getting the bond he could return home. After his release, he thanked his family, lawyer, girlfriend, judge and people associated with the music industry who supported his release. He said that the 14 days he spent in custody left a deep impact on his life.

‘Many times it felt as if all hope was lost’

In his video, Walia told that staying in the detention center was a very difficult experience for him mentally. He said that while living there, the world seemed very small and at times he felt that there was no way out. But when he came to know that people outside were raising their voice in his support and sending messages for him, it gave him strength to move forward in difficult times.

Pritesh Walia was born in Delhi

Pritesh Walia was born and brought up in New Delhi. He started training in Indian classical music at the age of just 13. Later he went to America to pursue higher education and a career in music. There he studied from prestigious music institutions and worked in the field of jazz music.

Indian origin woman also in ICE custody in America

Meanwhile, the case of another woman of Indian origin, Venkata Narasamamba Vasamsetty, being taken into ICE custody has also come to light. She has been living in America for about 27 years and has been a legal permanent resident i.e. green card holder since 2013. According to the report, on August 11, she had arrived for a routine ICE check-in, where she was taken into custody. Currently he is in an ICE detention facility in Georgia.

The old deportation case was already over

The important thing about Vasamsetty’s case is that a US immigration judge had ended the old deportation case run by the government in May. Despite this, he was later taken into custody by ICE. The controversy over his immigration status is said to be to his long stay in India in 2022. Questions were raised by the US government whether he had given up his permanent resident status by staying in India for a long time.

The family told the reason for going to India

Vasamsetty’s family and lawyer say that she had gone to India to take care of her ailing parents. According to the family, during this time she was also recovering from Covid-19. His lawyer argues that Vasamsetty has strong connections in America. His family, home and employment are there. Therefore, the family says that the time spent in India was not an indication of an intention to leave the US.

Big difference in both cases

Pritesh Walia and Venkata Vasamsetty are both of Indian origin, but their immigration cases are different. Walia’s case relates to alleged visa overstays and ICE detention, while Vasmasetti is a longtime permanent resident of the US and his old deportation case had already been terminated by an immigration judge.

Both the cases have again brought into discussion the actions of ICE in America and the immigration cases to people of Indian origin. However, the final legal position in both the cases will become clear only after the completion of the respective process.