Meenu Batra, the only licensed Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu court interpreter in Texas, has been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for over a month, despite living in the country legally for more than 35 years. The 53-year-old, who has interpreted for hundreds of immigration court hearings, was arrested at Harlingen International Airport on 17 March while travelling for work.
Batra fled religious persecution in India in 1991 and was granted a 'withholding of removal' in 2000, a humanitarian protection that prevents her deportation to India. However, her lawyer Deepak Ahluwalia fears the government intends to send her to a third country with which the US has deportation agreements, such as Uganda or Costa Rica. 'It's been a month and they still haven't told her where they want to send her,' Ahluwalia said.
In a sworn declaration, Batra said she was denied food and water for 24 hours and medication for several days after her arrest. She alleged officers forced her to pose for photographs with her hands behind her back, telling her the images were 'for social media'. 'This made me feel humiliated and treated like a criminal,' she said.
The Department of Homeland Security claimed Batra was subject to a 'final order of removal' from 2000, a statement her attorney disputes. 'A withholding of removal is not a final order; it is a deferral,' Ahluwalia said. Batra remains at the El Valle detention center in Raymondville, where she has been helping other detainees request legal access.
