Green Card Holder Detained ICE Sparks Debate Over U.S. Immigration Policies

A Congolese national and lawful U.S. permanent resident, Esther Ngoy Tekele, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) earlier this month after attempting to re-enter Vermont from Canada. Tekele, who holds a green card, had been returning from a family trip to attend a wedding in Canada when she was stopped at the Highgate Springs border crossing. The incident, which has been described by her family as a "nightmare," led to the unexpected detention of Tekele, leaving her family in distress.

Tekele has lived in Vermont since 2021, where she is the mother of a young child and serves as the primary caregiver for her ailing mother. Tekele’s brother recounted the evening of their return from Canada, stating that while the rest of the family was eventually cleared to enter the U.S., she was inexplicably required to remain behind. Authorities held Tekele at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility for over a week before any bond decision was made.

Her attorney, Jared Carter, contended that Tekele’s detention appears to be based on disputed allegations concerning her residency status. ICE officials apparently questioned the validity of her green card, but Carter argued that the grounds for her detention were neither justifiable nor constitutional in the absence of prompt proceedings.

Despite having no criminal record, Tekele’s case has generated significant concern among her family and local community members who fear the consequences of prolonged detention. This was exacerbated when Tekele and her attorney were initially unable to communicate for several days following her arrest due to lack of information regarding her location.

At her bond hearing in Chelmsford Immigration Court, attorney Nathan Virag successfully argued for her release on a $7,500 bond under conditions underscored by Tekele's clean legal history and her stable ties to the community. The Vermont Freedom Fund covered the cost of the bond, facilitating her return to her family.

During the court proceedings, ICE accused Tekele of providing false information about her marital status on her visa application, a charge which she vehemently denies. Her lawyer countered that such allegations, even if true, typically do not warrant detention without a substantial criminal basis, stressing that Tekele’s case reflects an accelerated enforcement stance lacking proportionate grounds for action.

U.S. Representative Becca Balint publicly supported Tekele, criticizing her detention as unjust and reflective of draconian immigration policies. The Congressman’s office played a role in determining her whereabouts during initial negotiations between her legal representation and local advocacy groups.

With Tekele’s next court date approaching, her family awaits further evidence that the government is mandated to submit for potential deportation proceedings. As they face the uncertainty of the forthcoming decisions, Tekele’s brother expressed a plea for empathy and timely intervention from those capable of influencing immigration policies and processes.

The situation underscores ongoing debates surrounding the treatment of legal residents at U.S. borders and the procedures employed by national enforcement bodies. Analysts predict that the prevailing climate of strict immigration control could see similar cases arising, bringing attention to the balance between enforcement policies and individual rights.