RAYMONDVILLE, Texas (Diya TV) — A longtime court interpreter who built her life in the United States now sits in an immigration detention center, raising questions about enforcement policies and due process. Meenu Batra, 53, has worked for more than two decades as a court interpreter specializing in Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu. Attorneys across the country have relied on her skills to help immigrants navigate complex legal proceedings. Now, she finds herself on the other side of the system she once supported.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained Batra on March 17 at Harlingen International Airport. She was preparing to travel to Wisconsin for work, as she had done many times before. According to a sworn deposition, plainclothes agents approached her after she passed through security. They told her she had a deportation order and questioned her immigration status. Batra responded that she had valid work authorization, which she had regularly renewed for years.
Agents handcuffed her and escorted her out of the airport. She said she chose to comply quietly to avoid escalation. Batra has lived in the United States for 35 years. She first arrived in New Jersey before settling in South Texas in 2002. Her attorneys argue that her detention was targeted and unjustified.
Batra holds a legal protection known as withholding of removal. This status applies to individuals who may face persecution in their home countries. It allows them to live and work in the United States but does not provide a path to permanent residency. Batra, who is Sikh, fled India after violence in the 1980s that killed her parents. An immigration judge granted her protection.
However, withholding of removal does not erase a deportation order. It only prevents deportation to the country of origin. Authorities may still attempt to remove individuals to a third country willing to accept them. Her attorneys say the government never indicated plans to deport her over the decades she complied with legal requirements.
After her arrest, agents took Batra to an ICE office in Harlingen. She was later transferred to the El Valle Detention Center near Raymondville. Batra said she spent 24 hours without food or water while being moved between facilities. She also reported limited access to medical care, despite recent surgeries. Within days, she developed a respiratory illness and lost her voice. She had a scheduled doctor’s appointment the same week she was detained. Her lawyers argue that these conditions violate her rights and put her health at risk.
Batra’s legal team has filed a habeas corpus petition, arguing that her detention is unlawful. They say it violates her right to due process. The petition includes letters of support from community members, attorneys, and public officials. Supporters describe her as a law-abiding resident who has contributed significantly to the legal system. Her child, who recently enlisted in the U.S. military, has filed a parole request on her behalf. If approved, it could allow her to remain in the country temporarily. Her attorneys have also sought a court order to prevent her transfer to another facility.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Batra has a final order of removal dating back to 2000. Officials stated she will remain in custody pending removal proceedings. The agency emphasized that employment authorization does not grant legal status. It has also encouraged individuals with deportation orders to leave the country voluntarily.
Batra’s case reflects broader enforcement efforts targeting individuals with existing removal orders. Advocates argue these policies often affect people deeply rooted in their communities. Legal experts note that federal judges in Texas have increasingly sided with detainees in similar cases. Many have ordered releases or bond hearings.
Batra spent years helping immigrants understand their rights and navigate court proceedings. Now, she observes the system from within. She said many detainees lack language support and legal knowledge. Unlike them, she understands the process and her rights. Her experience has deepened her perspective on the challenges faced by others in detention.
“I know my rights,” she said. “But many people here do not.”
A federal response to her petition is due by April 21. Her case continues to draw attention as debates over immigration enforcement intensify nationwide.
