Indian woman in US for 35 years detained by ICE, alleges 24-hour custody without food, water
Even though she explained that she had valid legal status and a work permit, she was arrested and later moved to a detention center in Raymondville.
PTC News Desk: Meenu Batra, a 53-year-old woman of Indian origin, has been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Texas, raising legal questions about whether her detention is valid. She has lived in the US for over 35 years and is the only licensed Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu court interpreter in Texas, helping many people in immigration cases.
She was detained on March 17 at Harlingen International Airport while traveling to Milwaukee for work related to an immigration case. ICE officers stopped her, handcuffed her, and took her into custody. Even though she explained that she had valid legal status and a work permit, she was arrested and later moved to a detention center in Raymondville.
"It feels bizarre," she told The Guardian. "I haven't been able to cry much because nothing is making sense."
"I don't know how else to put it. Here I am just staring at the wall, wondering what exactly I'm doing here, but also what anybody is doing here."
She said the situation feels very strange and confusing. Speaking to The Guardian, she said she hasn’t even been able to cry because she can’t understand what’s happening.
She added that she just sits there, staring at the wall, wondering why she is there and questioning why anyone else is there too.