Bangladeshi Woman Detained by ICE After Nearly 30 Years in the U.S.

Darwin, 20 October-

Masuma Khan, a 64-year-old Bangladeshi woman who has lived in California for nearly three decades, was recently detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a routine check-in on October 6. She is currently being held at the California City Correctional Facility.

According to her family, Khan suffers from multiple health issues, including asthma, high blood pressure, and thyroid complications. Concerns have been raised about her access to proper medical care while in custody.

Khan’s daughter, Riya Khan, told Newsweek that her mother originally came to the U.S. on a short-term visa during a family trip, when Riya suddenly fell ill with kidney failure. She overstayed her visa to care for her daughter, who required dialysis treatment for over three years.

Over the years, Khan’s immigration case became increasingly complicated. In 1999, a man allegedly approached her in a grocery store offering help to secure a green card. Instead, he scammed her, creating a fake identity and filing a fraudulent asylum case without her full understanding. When the case was denied, the man disappeared — leaving Khan unaware that she was under a removal order.

In 2015, her husband — a U.S. citizen — petitioned for her green card. However, during the process, immigration authorities raised concerns about the fraudulent asylum case, leading to a denial. Despite multiple attempts over the years to legalize her status with the help of attorneys, her situation remained unresolved.

In 2020, ICE briefly detained her at her workplace but released her due to her marriage to a U.S. citizen and her clean legal record. She continued to comply with all check-in requirements.

This year, however, her October check-in took a dramatic turn. An ICE agent presented her with an old deportation order and detained her on the spot.

Her daughter expressed deep concern over her health and treatment in detention, stating that Masuma was not given her blood pressure, thyroid, or eye medications for several days. She was later taken for medical care after her condition worsened.

“This is not just about my mom,” Riya said. “There are so many others going through the same thing. I want people to reach out to their representatives — not just for her, but for everyone being treated like this.”

California Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Judy Chu and Sen. Adam Schiff, have voiced support for Masuma’s case and are pressing for her release. Rep. Chu said they are actively pursuing a bond hearing to secure her release from ICE custody.

Masuma Khan’s attorneys have submitted a bond request and are awaiting a decision.