Harjit Kaur, a 73-year-old woman from Punjab, has shared her distressing experience after being deported from the United States, where she had lived for over 30 years. Kaur, who arrived in Delhi on September 23, recounted her ordeal, expressing a deep desire to reunite with her family in the US.

Kaur had been living in California since 1992 as an undocumented immigrant, raising her two sons and becoming a grandmother to five. She regularly reported to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) every six months, but during a routine check-in on September 8, she was unexpectedly detained. "I marked my attendance every six months. On September 8, when I went to the centre, they made me wait for two hours. Then they asked me to sign a paper. I refused to sign anything without my lawyer. The officials said they have my fingerprints. They informed that they have arrested me, but did not give any reason," Kaur told reporters.

Kaur's lawyer, Deepak Ahluwalia, has alleged that she was denied basic rights during her detention. She was not provided with her essential medications, had to sleep on the floor, and was given unsuitable food, including turkey, which she could not eat as a vegetarian. "I was not provided my medicines. I slept for only four hours. I had no peace," Kaur said, describing her physical discomfort and emotional distress during her time in custody.

After being held for 8 to 10 days in Bakersfield, California, Kaur was transferred to Arizona before being flown back to India on a private chartered flight. She expressed confusion over her deportation, stating, "I have been going there for so many years to mark my attendance. I am not sure why they deported me this time. I worked and paid taxes there and never made a mistake."

Upon her return to India, Kaur found herself without a place to stay, as her husband’s relatives had sold their property. "I don’t have any place to stay in India. I don’t know if my house still exists. I will go to my village where my brother and sister stay," she said, still grappling with the trauma of her experience. Kaur's only wish is to be reunited with her family in the US, stating, "My request is that I be sent back to my family."

Kaur's case is part of a larger trend, with over 2,400 Indians reportedly deported under the Trump administration's strict immigration policies. Her story highlights the challenges faced by undocumented immigrants and the impact of immigration enforcement on families.