Indian American teacher Venkata Narasamamba Vasamsetty is set to return home after an immigration judge granted her bail following nearly two weeks in ICE detention.
Sen. Jay Chaudhuri announced the development in a post on X, saying the judge set bail at $7,500 and found that the Department of Homeland Security had failed to establish that Vasamsetty was a flight risk.
“Venkata Vasamsetty is coming home,” Chaudhuri wrote.
More than 50 relatives, friends and coworkers reportedly attended Vasamsetty’s virtual bond hearing, while a petition calling for her release collected more than 8,000 signatures.
Chaudhuri also thanked those who supported the petition and Rep. Deborah Ross for speaking out against Vasamsetty’s detention.
Vasamsetty, a mother and grandmother, has lived in the United States for nearly three decades. She moved to the country in 1999 after her husband, a software professional, settled in the US. She later obtained her green card in 2013.
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Originally from a village near Amalapuram in Andhra Pradesh’s Konaseema district, Vasamsetty built her life in North Carolina around her family and career. She worked as a teacher in Wake County public schools and raised two daughters. One is a doctor and the other is an immigration attorney. Her children and grandchildren are US citizens.
Her immigration case dates back to 2022, when she traveled to India to visit her ailing father. She contracted COVID-19 during the trip, delaying her return to the United States by more than six months.
After she returned, DHS alleged that she had abandoned her lawful permanent resident status by remaining outside the country for an extended period. Vasamsetty was allowed to remain in the US while the case moved through immigration court and was required to report regularly for ICE check-ins in Charlotte.
Her family has said she complied with those requirements and attended every scheduled appointment. Her attorney also submitted documents arguing that she had never intended to abandon her home, family, job or permanent residency in the United States.
The case was eventually terminated after the government failed to meet a court deadline to substantiate its allegations. On May 19, an immigration judge ruled that the government had not provided “clear and convincing evidence” that Vasamsetty was removable as charged and terminated the removal proceedings.
The ruling effectively allowed her to retain her status as a lawful permanent resident. However, her ICE check-ins continued.
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On July 11, Vasamsetty attended a scheduled appointment at the Charlotte ICE office and reportedly brought a copy of the immigration judge’s order with her. According to her family, she was asked to return the following month because ICE records had not yet been updated and her attorney was unavailable that day.
She returned to the office on August 11, accompanied by her daughter. Her family said Vasamsetty was taken into custody and did not leave the office. She was later transferred to the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia.
Her detention also raised concerns about her health. Vasamsetty reportedly has severe insulin-dependent diabetes and requires daily medication and regular medical monitoring.
Her family has alleged that she did not receive adequate medical care or food appropriate for her condition during her detention.
With the judge now granting bail, Vasamsetty is expected to return to her family in Wake County.
Chaudhuri said the development was welcome news but argued that her detention should never have happened.
“While I’m relieved this nightmare is ending, it should never have happened to her, or to anyone,” he wrote. “Wake County is ready to welcome her home.”