Harlingen, Texas, USA: An Indian-origin woman, Meenu Batra, who has lived in the United States for over three decades, has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in Texas, sparking concerns over immigration enforcement procedures.
Batra, 53, is a licensed legal interpreter proficient in Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu, and has frequently assisted South Asian immigrants navigating the US legal system. According to reports, she was detained on March 17 at Harlingen International Airport while traveling to Wisconsin for a professional assignment.
During the incident, Batra stated that the officers who detained her were not in uniform and did not display visible identification. She was reportedly questioned about her immigration status and informed of an existing deportation order. Batra responded that she had valid work authorization, which had been periodically renewed following a “withholding of removal” status granted by an immigration judge in New Jersey years ago. However, she was told that such authorization did not guarantee indefinite residence in the country.
Following her detention, Batra was taken to an ICE field office in Harlingen and later transferred between multiple holding facilities, including the El Valle Detention Center near Raymondville. Reports indicate that she was held for nearly 24 hours without food or water and continues to face limited access to consistent medical care, despite undergoing surgeries in December.
Batra’s legal counsel, immigration attorney Deepak Ahluwalia, has filed a habeas corpus petition challenging her detention. Additionally, her attorneys have sought a temporary restraining order to prevent her transfer to another facility.
Her family situation has also drawn attention, as her youngest son recently enlisted in the US military and submitted a parole application on her behalf.
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security has stated that Batra has been subject to a final removal order since 2000 and will remain in ICE custody pending deportation proceedings.
Her legal team has strongly criticized the handling of the case, alleging violations of due process and raising broader concerns about current immigration enforcement practices.
