Altadena Woman Freed From ICE Custody After Judge’s Order

Masuma Khan, a 64 year old resident in Altadena, is back home with her family after a federal judge ordered her release from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, following allegations she was denied access to vital medication while detained.

Khan, who has lived in the United States since 1997 and has no criminal record, was detained Oct. 6 during a routine immigration check?in in downtown Los Angeles. She was held for approximately one month at the California City Correctional Facility in Kern County.

Khan’s family allege she was denied medication for asthma, high blood pressure and pre?diabetes. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security dispute these medication access claims, calling them “unfounded.”

On Nov. 6, U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston granted a preliminary injunction ordering Khan’s immediate release and blocking her deportation while her immigration case continues. Khan was reunited with her daughter, Riya, that evening.

Following her release, Khan told ABC7: “I feel like I’m out of prison and I can breathe.”

Her daughter, Riya Khan, described the family’s fears: “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.”

Rep. Judy Chu, D?Pasadena, said she pressed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for answers and requested Khan’s release. Chu noted: “Getting responses to her ICE inquiries in recent weeks has been challenging” due to government shutdown?related delays.