‘She’s been here over 30 years, working, paying taxes’: 73-year-old grandmother with no criminal record detained by ICE after 33 years in US, faces deportation

A 73-year-old grandmother from California was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during a routine immigration appointment, despite living in the United States for more than three decades. Harjit Kaur was taken into custody on September 9, 2025, after showing up for a regular check-in at the ICE office in San Francisco.

Kaur, who immigrated from India in 1992 as a single mother with two sons, has been complying with ICE requirements for over 13 years. Her asylum claim was denied, but she has continued to report to immigration officials every six months as required. According to her family’s legal website, she has been seeking travel documents from the Indian Consulate but was repeatedly turned away.

“She’s been here over 30 years, working, paying taxes. I don’t even think she has a speeding ticket, any type of violation like that. She’s a part of the community,” her daughter-in-law Manjit Kaur told local news station KTVU. The family describes the 73-year-old as a law-abiding resident who has worked legally and built strong community relationships over the decades.

ICE transfers detained grandmother to Bakersfield facility amid health concerns

After her detention in San Francisco, Kaur was transferred to the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center in Bakersfield, approximately 300 miles from her home in Hercules. The facility has faced criticism from state investigators for poor conditions and inadequate healthcare. Family members report they have struggled to communicate with Kaur, with phone calls costing $52 for just 15 minutes.

The family is particularly concerned about Kaur’s health while in detention. She suffers from thyroid disease, migraines, knee pain, and anxiety, and reportedly does not have access to her medications while detained. “Just the sound in her voice yesterday, I could hear the anxiety, I could hear that she’s losing her strength, breaking down,” Manjit Kaur told KTVU about their brief phone conversation.

Kaur’s detention comes as the Trump administration has significantly increased immigration enforcement operations. In the first 100 days of President Trump’s second term, ICE arrested over 66,000 people and removed more than 65,000, representing a dramatic increase from previous years. This aggressive approach to immigration enforcement has sparked protests in cities across the country.

More than 200 community members gathered in El Sobrante on September 12 to protest Kaur’s detention. The rally included family members, local residents, and representatives from Congressman John Garamendi’s office. Protesters held signs reading “Hands Off Our Grandma” and “Bring Grandma Home.” The demonstration highlighted growing concerns about immigration enforcement targeting long-term residents with no criminal history.

California Representative John Garamendi criticized the administration’s priorities in a statement to local media. “President Trump initially promised to go after the ‘worst of the worst’ in his immigration policy. Yet this administration’s decision to detain a 73-year-old woman– a respected member of the community with no criminal record who has faithfully reported to ICE every six months for more than 13 years– is one more example of the misplaced priorities of Trump’s immigration enforcement.” Garamendi’s office has committed to supporting Kaur’s case and has sent letters to ICE officials demanding her release. However, ICE detention operations have faced increased scrutiny as enforcement tactics have intensified under the current administration.