Last Updated:
Harjit Kaur was taken into custody by ICE on September 8 in San Francisco and transferred the next day to the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center in Bakersfield
Harjit Kaur, a long-time resident of Hercules in California’s East Bay, has lived in the United States for over 30 years. (Image via X)
A 73-year-old Indian-origin woman has become the focus of growing protests in California after she was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during what her family believed would be a routine check-in.
Harjit Kaur, a long-time resident of Hercules in California’s East Bay, has lived in the United States for over 30 years. She was taken into custody by ICE on September 8 in San Francisco and transferred the next day to the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center in Bakersfield, according to her family.
Recommended Stories
Kaur, who immigrated from India in 1992 as a single mother with two sons, has no criminal record. Her asylum claim was denied in 2012, after which she remained under ICE supervision. Her family said she was repeatedly told she could stay in the US until travel documents were arranged by Indian authorities, The Indian Express reported.
The sudden detention has sparked widespread anger and calls for her release. On Friday, around 200 people gathered in El Sobrante, waving signs that read “Hands Off Our Grandma” and “Bring Grandma Home.” The protest was organised by her family, the Sikh Center, and local advocacy group Indivisible West Contra Costa.
“She’s not a criminal. And she’s not only my grandma. She is everyone’s grandma,” said her granddaughter, Sukhdeep Kaur, speaking to Richmondside. “Everyone looks up to her as a mother figure. She is independent, selfless, hard-working.”
Support also came from local leaders. A representative from Congressman John Garamendi’s office attended the protest, along with Hercules City Council member Dilli Bhattarai.
“She is not doing any harm to the community. She is an abiding constituent just like us,” Bhattarai said.
Kaur worked for over 20 years as a seamstress at a family-owned store in Berkeley. Her daughter-in-law, Manjit Kaur, said during the protest that Harjit had always cooperated with immigration authorities and had made multiple efforts to secure travel documents from the Indian Consulate.
“ICE has been trying for the past 13 years to get her a travel document. If ICE can’t get it in 13 years, how are we supposed to get it?” Manjit asked the crowd.
The family is also concerned about Kaur’s health. She suffers from thyroid issues, chronic knee pain, migraines and anxiety. They claim she is not receiving proper access to her medication while in detention.
“When we did hear from her, she was crying and begging us for help,” the family said in a statement to ABC7 News.
Congressman Garamendi has criticised the detention as “misplaced priorities,” urging ICE to focus on high-risk individuals rather than elderly residents with long-standing ties to the community. His office has submitted an inquiry to ICE.
California Assembly member Alex Lee also voiced support for Kaur, saying she had done everything right and should not be treated this way.
The family has launched a campaign website, bringharjithome.com, urging people to contact elected officials and demand her release.
About the Author
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
United States of America (USA)
September 14, 2025, 19:53 IST
Loading comments…
Read More
