Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
International

Indian-American Doctor Couple Pankaj Satija And Monika Ummat Facing Deportation Gets Reprieve

Darpan News Desk IANS, 31 Mar, 2017 12:05 PM
    Two prominent Indian-American doctors in Houston facing deportation as their travel documents had expired have been given a rare last minute-reprieve by the US administration that granted them a 90-day extension on humanitarian grounds.
     
    Dr Pankaj Satija and his wife Dr Monika Ummat, both neurologists, have been working legally in the US for 15 years. They have a 7-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter.
     
    The problem started when they visited India to see Dr Satija's sick father in October last year. On their return they were stopped at the Bush International airport by Customs and Border Protection officials because their travel documents had expired, the Houston Chronicle reported.
     
    The Customs and Border Protection officials stamped their travel document saying that it would expire in June this year, when in fact the US Citizenship and Immigration Services noted that their document actually expired in June, 2016.
     
    Upon returning to the US about a week later, a Customs and Border Protection official at the airport noted the discrepancy. The officials, however, allowed them to enter temporarily to correct the error.
     
    On Wednesday, Dr Satija and his wife were abruptly told by immigration officials that they had 24 hours to leave the US. They were told that under a new policy, they could no longer extend their temporary permission to stay while they waited for permanent authorisation, local media reported.
     
    However, as they were about to board a plane for India yesterday, they were granted a 90-day extension on humanitarian grounds.
     
    The couple had called on their legislators and had taken the media along with their attorneys to plead their case. They reported, as ordered, to customs officials at Bush Intercontinental Airport, where they were told the agency had suddenly reversed course.
     
    "Somebody at a higher level has made that decision," they were told by an agent. "I understand that you are physicians and a lot of lives are at stake."
     
    The agency offered the couple three months of humanitarian parole, a rare measure allowing immigrants, who are otherwise not permitted to enter the US, the opportunity to do so due to a "compelling emergency" to sort out their paperwork.
     
    "It was an unusual act of grace from an administration that has so far seemed intent on removing as many immigrants as it can, making few exceptions, even for those, like the Satijas, with good reasons to stay," the Houston Chronicle said in its report.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    India-Born Businessman Kevin Michel Wins Local Election In Australia

    India-Born Businessman Kevin Michel Wins Local Election In Australia
    Kevin Michel, a Labor party candidate from Pilbara seat defeated Brendon Grylls of Nationals Party, with a 13.7 per cent swing in Labor's favour on a two party preferred basis.

    India-Born Businessman Kevin Michel Wins Local Election In Australia

    Toronto Woman Loses Life Savings, Home In Online Dating Scam: Police

    Toronto Woman Loses Life Savings, Home In Online Dating Scam: Police
    The plight of a Toronto widow who lost hundreds of thousands of dollars and her home in a dating scam has prompted police to urge vigilance online.

    Toronto Woman Loses Life Savings, Home In Online Dating Scam: Police

    'Friends' Star Matthew Perry Says He 'Beat Up' Justin Trudeau In Grade School

    'Friends' Star Matthew Perry Says He 'Beat Up' Justin Trudeau In Grade School
    The actor, who played Chandler Bing on the sitcom, recounted the memory of the Grade 5 scuffle on Jimmy Kimmel's late night talk show Wednesday night.

    'Friends' Star Matthew Perry Says He 'Beat Up' Justin Trudeau In Grade School

    From Critical Raves To Justin Trudeau Visit, A Whirlwind Week For 'Come From Away'

    From Critical Raves To Justin Trudeau Visit, A Whirlwind Week For 'Come From Away'
    The Canadian creators behind "Come From Away" are riding an emotional high after a whirlwind opening week for their Broadway show.

    From Critical Raves To Justin Trudeau Visit, A Whirlwind Week For 'Come From Away'

    Tulsi Gabbard Elected Co-Chair Of Congressional India Caucus

    Tulsi Gabbard Elected Co-Chair Of Congressional India Caucus
    Gabbard, 35, the first ever Hindu elected to the US House of Representative in 2013 is the three-term Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii.

    Tulsi Gabbard Elected Co-Chair Of Congressional India Caucus

    UK Sikhs Worried Over Europe Headscarf Ban; Say 3 Lakh At Risk

    British Sikhs on Wednesday voiced concern over a European court allowing companies to ban staff from wearing religious symbols like the Muslim headscarf and said the ruling puts nearly 300,000 community members in Europe at risk.

    UK Sikhs Worried Over Europe Headscarf Ban; Say 3 Lakh At Risk