The recent deportation of 73-year-old Harjeet Kaur from the United States, after she lived in the country for 33 years, has drawn sharp criticism and prompted protests. Kaur was taken into custody during a standard immigration check in California. Legal representatives and family members argue that her case highlights the critical issues within the U.S. immigration system.
Harjeet Kaur arrived in America in 1992 as a single mother with her two sons, subsequently settling in the East Bay region of California. She spent her years working and integrating into the community. Despite previous asylum attempts, she had been reporting to the San Francisco immigration office every six months. Kaur was under the impression that she could remain in the country while her travel documents were processed. During a regular inspection, ICE officials unexpectedly detained her, moving her from Bakersfield to Los Angeles, then to Georgia, and finally to Delhi. The family claims they received no prior warning and were unable to say their final goodbyes.