Outrage in America over detention of elderly Sikh woman, who has been living in jail for 33 years

News Topical, Digital Desk : The Sikh community as well as the non-resident Indians are angry after the case of 73-year-old Sikh woman Harjeet Kaur, who has been living in America for 33 years, being detained by immigration officials in California came to light. Harjeet's family has demanded her release.

Harjeet's family, Indivisible West Contra Costa County and the Sikh Center held a protest on Friday. US Congressman John Garamendi, local representatives and many leaders participated in the protest.

Who is Harjeet Kaur?

It is noteworthy that Harjeet was detained by Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) officials during a routine check earlier this week. She has been taken to the detention center in Bakersfield. Harjeet has been living in the East Bay of Northern California, USA for more than 30 years. She has two grandsons and three granddaughters.

Harjeet has been complying with routine immigration checks (which take place every six months) for more than a decade. She has no criminal record.

According to the report, Harjeet had no documents. She is an illegal immigrant. She came to the US from India in 1992 as a single mother with two sons.

What does his family say?

Harjeet’s asylum application was rejected in 2012, but she continued to visit ICE in San Francisco every six months for more than 13 years, her daughter-in-law Manji Kaur said.

What do the people involved in the protest have to say?

Media reports quoted Garamendi as saying that his office has requested ICE to reunite Harjeet with his family.

"President Donald Trump promised to weed out the bad guys in his immigration policy. Yet the Trump administration decided to detain a 73-year-old woman with no criminal record. Our office will do everything possible to support her family," Garamendi said.

"She is not doing any harm. As a member of the community she has every right to be here. We should all support her immediate release," said Dilli Bhattarai, a local council member.

Harjeet's granddaughter Sukhdeep Kaur said, "We are all in shock." Harjeet's family has expressed concern about his health. The family said that being in custody could be dangerous for him due to serious health problems like thyroid, migraine, knee pain and anxiety.

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