MIDDLEBURG, Fla. – A Middleburg couple is hoping for a miracle to happen after ICE ordered the husband, who’s been in the country illegally for over a decade, to turn himself in to return to India.
Ashley Kennedy Purohit showed News4JAX an email that ICE sent to her and her husband’s immigration attorney.
It reads “Received. Please have Mr. Purohit meet the team at the ticketing counter, no later than 2 hours prior to the flight.”
The letter gave them directions on what her husband, Tapan Kumar Purohit, needs to do when he turns himself on Saturday morning to head back to India.
“It’s hurtful. It’s very hurtful,” Tapan Purohit said.
Tapan Purohit has been in the country without his status for over a decade.
He moved here in 2011 on a J1, or temporary visa. However, it expired in 2012 and by 2013 he said he was told by the U.S. Immigration Office to voluntarily go back to India.
But he didn’t.
“In India, there were so many crimes and everything was going on at that time, I got scared to go back,” Tapan Purohit said.
Since he didn’t go back, Tapan Purohit said he worked in the stone industry for the last few years.
That’s where he met Ashley. They got married last March.
In August, his immigration attorney applied for a new visa.
In December, Tapan was arrested after Ashley called law enforcement following a fight between him and her teenage son, which put him on ICE’s radar.
The day after his arrest, a warrant for removal from the country was issued.
Online records show, the Clay County charges were dropped, but the ICE order remained.
Agents showed up at their house this week, ordering Tapan to come outside— but he refused.
“I always tell her anything happens, I’m not going to lose you this is my first and last marriage this ring means to me, both the rings mean a lot. I’m not going to lose you,” Tapan Purohit said.
News4JAX spoke with Immigration Attorney Vilerka Bilbao over the phone about this case.
She said Tapan being in this country for so many years without his status is called unlawful presence.
However, she said in case someone is in the country illegally, they have rights when it comes to ICE.
“So, when ICE or any federal agent comes to your door and knocks on your door, unless you give them permission, they are not allowed to enter your house,” Bilbao said. “We have that protection. The Constitution gives us that protection, and it doesn’t matter if you’re an immigrant or not an immigrant, that still applies to you.”
Ashley Purohit said she is praying every minute the judge rules on two motions her attorney filed so her husband can stay in the country and fight to get residency.
“Just give us the chance. He’s not harming anybody he’s not taking from anybody and, if anything, he’s keeping me and my kids off of food stamps and welfare so that’s a beautiful thing,” Ashley Purohit said.
News4JAX reached out to ICE for comment on this situation. We are waiting to hear back.