A 73-year-old Sikh woman Harjit Kaur, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials during a routine check-in this week. ICE detains East Bay grandmother, 73, with health issues, no criminal history The detention has prompted her family and community to organize a protest demanding her release.
Harjit Kaur has lived in the East Bay for more than 30 years. She currently lives in Hercules but worked for two decades at a small business, Sari Palace, in Berkeley and regularly attended the El Sobrante Sikh Gurdwara. She was detained after ICE asked her to come to the San Francisco office to turn in additional paperwork. Harjit Kaur’s asylum case was denied in 2012, but since then, she has “faithfully reported” to ICE in San Francisco every six months for more than 13 years. The family says she has followed all requirements and has no criminal record.
The family explains that Kaur has repeatedly sought travel documents from the Indian Consulate but was turned down, and ICE had assured her she could remain under supervision until documents were obtained.
Her family worries that being detained at her age is putting her life at risk. A protest was held today at 5 p.m. in El Sobrante, organised by her family, local advocacy groups, and the Sikh Centre, with about 200 community members expected to attend and staff from Congressman John Garamendi’s office.
This case highlights ongoing debates about immigration enforcement priorities and the treatment of long-term residents without legal status who have been complying with check-in requirements.