2nd Indian hunger-striker released from immigration custody
EL PASO, Texas (AP) — A second Indian man who refused to eat for more than 70 days in U.S. immigration custody has been released after a year in detention.
Gurjant Singh left a detention center in El Paso Monday, according to his lawyer, Jessica Miles.
Singh refused meals starting on July 9 along with another detainee who was also released last week . Their lawyers say they resumed eating after ICE agreed to their release.
His lawyer says the 23-year-old fears returning to India because he was beaten on several occasions for supporting a minority political party before fleeing to the U.S. to seek asylum.
Immigration officials say he entered the country illegally and was ordered deported after a judge denied his asylum application.
Authorities let him be released while he appeals the decision.
___
This version of the story corrects that Singh was released Monday (today) not Thursday last week.
