Meenu Batra, a courtroom interpreter based in Texas, found herself on the other side of the immigration system she had long worked within. Batra, who has lived in the United States since 1991, was detained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in March while on her way to interpret for a trial in Milwaukee. Her detention lasted over six weeks, a period she describes as harrowing.

Background and Legal Status

Batra arrived in the U.S. as an 18-year-old, fleeing anti-Sikh violence in India that claimed the lives of her parents. She applied for asylum and was granted withholding of removal, a status that protected her from deportation to India. For 25 years, she lived without any formal interactions with immigration authorities until her recent detention.

Detention and Advocacy

While detained, Batra used her knowledge of immigration law to help other detainees understand their rights. She described the process of being detained as humiliating and expressed concern about being deported to a country with which she has no ties. Her attorney, Deepak Ahluwalia, argued that she was targeted based on flight information shared between TSA and ICE.

Legal Proceedings

Batra’s legal team filed a petition for habeas corpus, leading to a federal judge granting a temporary restraining order for her release. The judge noted that Batra was detained without a clear reason. Her case underscores the broader implications of immigration enforcement practices under the current administration.

Batra hopes her experience will draw attention to the plight of ordinary people detained by DHS, emphasizing the need for humane treatment and recognition of their contributions to society.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.