An Indian immigrant who lost a third of his weight during a 70-day hunger strike over the rejection of his asylum claim won temporary release on Thursday after a year in US detention.
Ajay Kumar, 33, bowed with his hands clasped together in a traditional Indian greeting as he walked away from a detainee processing center in El Paso, Texas, with a tracking device around his ankle — a condition of his release.
He was accompanied by human rights activists, who had been galvanised by medical personnel force-feeding him.
The painful procedure involves pumping liquid food into the stomach via a tube through his nose.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials agreed to a deal last week in which Kumar and another Indian national resumed eating on a promise that they would be released, according to their lawyers.
The men began eating again onSaturday and had been kept under medical observation.
Kumar said he felt "very good," even though he lost nearly 50 pounds (23 kilograms) during his hunger strike, dropping from 150 pounds (68 kilograms) at the start of his hunger strike to 107 pounds (48 kilograms).
Kumar said he has regained about 10 pounds (5 kilograms) but still feels in pain.
"I got my freedom," Kumar said.
"I've been waiting a long time for this." Kumar and fellow Indian detainee Gurjant Singh began their hunger strike July 8 after rejection of their asylum claims and denial of bond. They had spent almost a year in an ICE detention facility in Otero, New Mexico, and hadn't been charged with a crime.
They believe the judge did not consider the facts of their cases individually.
"This immigration judge said, 'All of these Indian asylum claims are incredulous. I don't believe them,'" said attorney Linda Corchado, who represents Kumar, in a press conference last week.
"It is damning. You expect at least some level of weighing the facts." Singh has not been released but his attorney, Jessica Miles, said she hopes it will be Friday.
Kumar told immigration officials he fled India because he feared beatings, torture and death at the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling BJP.
