ADVERTISEMENTs
Sikh grandmother sent to India after alleged ICE abuse
Harjit Kaur, 73, was deported after being held in harsh conditions, as per the Sikh Coalition and SALDEF, who are demanding accountability from US authorities.
-
Pranavi Sharma - Thu, 25, Sep 2025
- 00:19 EDT
- 240
Sikh coalition and SALDEF demand accountability for 'inhumane treatement' of Harjit Kaur. / X/ @Gagan4344
A 73-year-old Sikh woman, Harjit Kaur, has been deported to India after what advocacy groups and her attorney described as “inhumane treatment” while in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. Sikh organizations in the United States have condemned the handling of her case and called for accountability.
Kaur, a grandmother who had lived in California for more than three decades, had complied with routine ICE check-ins in Hercules, California, for 13 years. On Sept. 8, she was detained during one of these check-ins and held at the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center in Bakersfield, California. She was later transferred across the country to a detention facility in Lumpkin, Georgia, before being placed on a charter flight to India on Sept. 19.
ALSO READ: 73-year-old Sikh woman detained by ICE, sparks protests in Bay Area
Her attorney, Deepak Ahluwalia, said neither her family nor her legal counsel were notified about her transfer to Georgia. “Ms. Harjit Kaur waited over 13 years for ICE to procure her travel documents. A 73-year-old grandmother with zero criminal history, who was neither a flight risk nor a danger to the community, should never have been detained—let alone treated the way she was while in ICE custody,” he said.
The Sikh Coalition described Kaur’s experience in detention as marked by multiple violations of basic standards of care. According to their statement, she was shackled during transport, held in cells without beds or chairs, denied vegetarian meals in line with her religious beliefs, and at times given only an apple or ice as food despite having dental issues. She was also allegedly refused access to showers, water, hygiene supplies, and faced delays in receiving prescribed medication.
The group said, “It is despicable that any human should be treated this way, and downright sickening that a 73-year-old woman was forced to endure it.”
SALDEF calls out abuse
SALDEF, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, also issued a statement condemning ICE’s handling of the case. “This case demonstrates the urgent need for accountability and humane treatment in our immigration system,” said SALDEF Executive Director Kiran Kaur Gill. “No individual should endure such degrading treatment, especially someone who has faithfully complied with ICE requirements for over a decade.”
Heeral Mehta, a close family friend, said the family was kept uninformed throughout the process. “At every phase, we were kept in the dark and had no idea what was next. The inhumane treatment she faced by ICE was deeply troubling, but her strength—and the incredible support from SALDEF, Deepak Ahluwalia, the Sikh Coalition, Jakara, Congressman Garamendi, and Harpreet Sandhu—helped her through.”
SALDEF said the organization worked with elected officials and community partners to advocate for Kaur’s safety and dignity during her detention and deportation process.
Both SALDEF and the Sikh Coalition said Kaur’s case reflects broader systemic issues in immigration enforcement, particularly regarding the treatment of elderly and vulnerable detainees. They have pledged to pursue accountability and reform to prevent similar incidents.
Related
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
ADVERTISEMENT
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login