64-year-old Altadena woman released from ICE custody
ALTADENA, Calif. (KABC) -- A 64-year-old Altadena woman is back with her family after she was released from ICE custody, and now, her family is speaking out.
Masuma Khan went in for a routine immigration check-in last month when federal agents took her into custody.
"Nothing happened like this before. I'm totally shocked," she told Eyewitness News.
She described the conditions she was held in.
"We used socks for the hairband, socks to cover our hands because it's cold inside," she added.
It became dangerous when Masuma said she was not able to access vital health medication.
"I (was) so worried that something serious was going to happen to her that would be irreversible, and I didn't want to lose my mom, you know, while she was in there because of negligence," said her daughter, Riya Khan.
On Wednesday, Masuma had her day in court, and a U.S. federal court judge granted a preliminary injunction, ordering her immediate release.
"I feel like I'm out of prison and I can breathe," Masuma said.
The release prevents her from being deported without due process as her immigration case continues.
Her lawyer says even people who try to become citizens the right way deal with major uphill battles.
"There needs to be ways for people who've been here a long time to get status and to not have to feel insecure about their ability to stay here," lawyer Ritu Mahajan said.
Masuma, who is from Bangladesh, arrived in the U.S. in 1997. Her husband and daughter are U.S. citizens.
Upon trying to get her documents in order, she hired someone who her lawyer says mishandled her paperwork.
"The way in which this person was going about it was by making up stories, you know, saying that somebody's from somewhere else, and experienced some sort of situation, and based on that, is deserving of asylum, "Mahajan said.
Riya said the family is going to continue to fight for her mother's immigration status.
"We are going to keep following the procedures that she's been following for years, legally. And that's all we can do, and we can just advocate for each other and just continue following the rules," Riya said.
ICE and the Department of Homeland Security responded to Eyewitness News' request for comment in October and said claims that Masuma was denied medication are unfounded. They added that they are committed to enforcing immigration laws.
As for the California City Correctional Facility where she was held, her lawyer says she believes some legal groups are ready to file a lawsuit against the facility soon.
