Jersey City, New Jersey, USA: Indian-origin interpreter Meenu Batra, a 53-year-old single mother of four, has been taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in South Texas, prompting legal action over what she alleges is an unlawful detention.

Batra, who has served as a court interpreter for over two decades and is reportedly the only licensed interpreter in Texas for Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu, was detained on March 17 at Harlingen Airport. She was en route to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for professional work when authorities apprehended her.

According to her sworn deposition, Batra stated that the officers who detained her were neither in uniform nor displayed visible identification. She further alleged that the agents informed her of an existing deportation order and claimed she was in the United States unlawfully.

Batra, however, maintained that her employment authorization remains valid for the next four years. She also informed officials that a prior deportation order had been effectively overridden by a “withholding of removal” order issued by an immigration judge in New Jersey several decades ago.

The “withholding of removal” provision legally prevents deportation to a country where an individual may face threats to life or freedom. While it does not grant permanent residency, it restricts removal to the designated country—in this case, India—though relocation to a third country remains a possibility.

Recalling the incident, Batra stated that she chose to comply with authorities to avoid escalation and public embarrassment, noting her awareness of how resistance could be interpreted.

Currently held at the El Valle Detention Center near Raymondville, Batra has also raised concerns about limited access to consistent medical care following surgeries she underwent in December.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been given a deadline of April 21 to respond to her legal petition challenging the legality of her detention.