The visiting room of the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Centre in Bakersfield, California, is small, loud, and crowded. When Harjit Kaur's family arrived to see her, they could barely hear her - and the first words they caught shattered them.
She said, 'I would rather die than be in this facility. May God just take me now,' recalled her distraught daughter-in-law, Manjit Kaur.
Harjit Kaur, 73, who unsuccessfully applied for asylum in the US, has lived in California for more than three decades. She was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials on September 8, igniting shock and sympathy within the Sikh community across the state and beyond.
Harjit Kaur had filed several asylum appeals over the years which were rejected, with the last denial in 2012, her lawyer stated. Following that, she reported to immigration every six months and was apprehended during one such check-in in San Francisco.
The controversy arises amid a broader crackdown on immigration policies, emphasizing the complex challenges surrounding asylum seekers in the US, which has over 3.7 million pending immigration cases. Critics argue that the enforcement actions disproportionately target vulnerable individuals, including those with no criminal records.
California State Senator Jesse Arreguin remarked, Over 70% of people arrested by ICE have no criminal conviction. Now, they are literally going after peaceful grandmothers. This shameful act is harming our communities.
US Congressman John Garamendi has called for Kaur's release, emphasizing the incongruence of detaining a community member with no criminal background. ICE has defended its actions, citing lengthy legal processes that Kaur has already exhausted.
Initially arriving in the US in 1991 as a widow with two young sons, Kaur has weathered numerous challenges and established a life in California, where she raised a family and contributed to her community. Meanwhile, her family is urging for her immediate release, proposing alternatives to detention while they secure travel documents to facilitate her return home.
The protests against Kaur's arrest have drawn significant crowds and support, highlighting the community’s efforts to rally against perceived injustices within the immigration system.
As supporters continue to advocate for Kaur, the larger conversation surrounding immigration reform and humane treatment of individuals navigating the asylum process remains crucial.
