Harjeet Kaur, a 73-year-old Sikh woman, was deported from the United States after residing there for over 33 years. Kaur was detained during a routine immigration check in California and was not given the opportunity to say goodbye to her family. Her lawyer, Deepak Ahluwalia, stated that Kaur is returning to Punjab, highlighting that her case raises not only humanitarian concerns but also exposes the harshness of the U.S. immigration system and the vulnerability of the immigrant community.
Kaur arrived in the US in 1992 as a single mother with her two sons. She spent much of her life in the East Bay area of California, working in an Indian apparel store. Her granddaughter, Sukhdeep Kaur, described her as a selfless and hardworking woman who was like a mother to the community.
Despite struggling to obtain asylum since 2012, with her application being rejected, Kaur consistently reported to the San Francisco immigration office every six months. She was assured that she could remain in the U.S. under supervision until her travel documents were complete. However, during a routine check, ICE officials unexpectedly took her into custody and subsequently sent her from Bakersfield to Los Angeles, then to Georgia, and finally to Delhi. The family claims they received no prior notice and were denied an opportunity for a final farewell.