Indian-origin woman detained by ICE alleges 24 hours without food, says she was treated like a criminal
Indian-origin woman detained by ICE alleges 24 hours without food, says she was treated like a criminal
A decades-long life in the United States has suddenly turned uncertain for Meenu Batra, a 53-year-old Indian-origin court interpreter, whose detention by US immigration authorities has raised serious legal and humanitarian concerns. Having spent over three decades building her career and raising her family in Texas, Batra now finds herself in custody, questioning how her life reached this point.
Batra was taken into custody on March 17 at Harlingen International Airport while she was travelling to Milwaukee for a work assignment related to immigration court. According to her sworn statement, she was stopped by plainclothes officers after passing through airport security. She claimed the agents did not initially show identification and began questioning her immigration status.
When informed about an existing deportation order, Batra responded that she had been granted “withholding of removal” in 2000 — a legal protection preventing her deportation to India due to fear of persecution. However, she recalled an officer telling her that such protection did not allow her to remain in the US indefinitely. She complied with their instructions and was subsequently arrested.
Following her detention, Batra was transferred to the El Valle Detention Center in Raymondville, Texas, where she remains in custody. In a habeas corpus petition filed through her lawyers, she has challenged the legality of her detention, arguing that it violates her right to due process.
She has also made several troubling allegations about her treatment. Batra claimed she was held for nearly 24 hours without food or water and was denied access to necessary medication. She further alleged that officers asked her to pose for photographs with her hands positioned behind her back to make it appear as though she was still handcuffed. According to her, the officers said the images were intended “for social media,” an experience she described as humiliating and degrading.
Within days of being detained, Batra reportedly fell ill with a respiratory infection and temporarily lost her voice. Speaking from detention, she described the situation as surreal and difficult to comprehend. “It feels bizarre,” she said, expressing confusion about why she was being held and reflecting on the uncertainty faced by others in similar situations.
Batra’s background adds another layer to the case. She came to the United States in 1991 after fleeing anti-Sikh violence in India during the 1980s, in which her parents were killed. Over the years, she established herself as the only licensed court interpreter in Texas fluent in Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu, working extensively in immigration courts and assisting countless individuals navigating the legal system.
Despite her long residence, her legal status remains complex. While the “withholding of removal” order protects her from being deported to India, it does not grant permanent legal status or citizenship. Her attorney, Deepak Ahluwalia, has expressed concern that authorities may attempt to deport her to a third country, as the US government has reportedly entered agreements with several nations to accept deportees. So far, no destination has been disclosed.
Her detention has also deeply impacted her family. A single mother of four, Batra has children who have grown up in the United States. One of her sons, who recently enlisted in the US Army, has applied for humanitarian parole on her behalf, urging authorities to release her. He has publicly appealed for her return, stating that after all he has done in service, he hopes his country will help bring his mother home.
Officials from the Department of Homeland Security have defended the detention, stating that Batra has had a final order of removal since 2000 and will remain in ICE custody while her case proceeds. They emphasised that employment authorisation does not equate to legal immigration status and reiterated their stance encouraging undocumented individuals to leave the country voluntarily.
Batra’s legal team continues to argue that her detention is unjust and inconsistent with due process protections. A federal court is expected to review her petition, with the government required to respond by April 21.
