Elderly Woman Deported to India by US Authorities After Three Decades in America

MUMBAI — A 73-year-old grandmother, who resided in the United States for over 30 years, has been removed from the country and sent to India by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Harjit Kaur, who had lived and worked in California since 1991 after moving with her two young sons to escape political unrest in Punjab, was detained by ICE on September 8th. The sudden arrest of the elderly woman, who has no criminal record, sparked considerable outcry among the Sikh community in the U.S.

Ms. Kaur spent two decades as a seamstress at a sari shop in the San Francisco Bay Area city of Hercules and consistently paid her taxes. Under U.S. law, asylum applicants are permitted to work and live lawfully while their petitions are under review.

Alleged Mistreatment in Custody

Ms. Kaur’s lawyer, Deepak Ahluwalia, described the treatment his client received in detention as “unacceptable.”

In a video posted online, Mr. Ahluwalia alleged that Ms. Kaur, who recently underwent double knee replacement surgery, was forced to sleep on the floor for 60 to 70 hours as she was not provided a bed. He also claimed she was denied adequate food for her needs and, when requesting sustenance to take medication, was given ice. When she explained she couldn’t consume the ice or a provided sandwich, guards reportedly shifted the blame onto her.

Ms. Kaur was transferred from a detention facility to Georgia on September 19th and subsequently deported to India on September 22nd. Her attorney lamented that she was never granted the opportunity to visit her home one last time or say a proper farewell to her family and friends.

Upon arrival in Delhi on Thursday, a deeply distressed Ms. Kaur told a local news outlet, “After living for so long, you are suddenly detained and deported this way; it is better to die than to face this.”

ICE Justifies Removal

ICE defended its enforcement action, stating that Ms. Kaur had “exhausted decades of due process.”

In a public statement, the agency noted that an Immigration Judge first issued an order for her removal in 2005. ICE asserted, “Harjit Kaur has filed multiple appeals all the way up to the Ninth Circuit Court of appeals and LOST each time. Now that she has exhausted all legal remedies, ICE is enforcing U.S. law and the orders by the judge; she will not waste any more U.S. tax dollars.”

Following the final rejection of her appeals, Ms. Kaur had continued to reside and work in the country, reportedly lacking the necessary documents to secure a safe return to India. She had been asked to check in with immigration authorities every six months and was apprehended in San Francisco during one of these routine appointments.

The deportation of Ms. Kaur comes as the current administration continues its strict focus on immigration enforcement, specifically targeting individuals residing without proper authorization. While the President stated his intent to deport the “worst of the worst,” critics argue that the enforcement has also swept up individuals like Ms. Kaur, who possess clean records and have complied with lengthy legal processes.