CALIFORNIA: A 73-year-old Sikh woman, Bibi Harjeet Kaur, who had lived in the United States for more than three decades, was deported to India this week in a move that has drawn sharp criticism from rights advocates and Sikh community groups.
According to her attorney, Deepak Ahluwalia, immigration authorities detained Kaur during a routine check-in with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in California.
She was then transported in handcuffs to Georgia before being placed on a charter flight to Punjab. Her lawyer alleged she was denied access to legal counsel and family members during the process.
Kaur, who has no criminal record, described her detention as degrading. She said she was forced to sleep on the floor, denied proper access to her family, and repeatedly offered meals containing meat, despite being a vegetarian.
Kaur originally arrived in the United States in 1991 with her two sons, seeking asylum from political unrest in Punjab. While her asylum applications were ultimately denied in 2012, she continued to report to ICE every six months for more than 13 years without incident.
Her sudden arrest and removal have left her relatives stunned. “For more than 30 years she lived peacefully in the U.S. and complied with all requirements. To deport her in this manner is inhumane,” attorney Ahluwalia said.
The deportation has triggered anger across the Sikh diaspora, with community leaders calling it a violation of human rights and basic dignity. Advocacy groups argue that her age and long-standing ties to the U.S. should have been considered before carrying out such an action.
Kaur is now residing with relatives in Punjab, while her family in the U.S. and legal team assess possible next steps.
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