HARLINGEN, Texas (Diya TV) — An Indian-born court interpreter who spent weeks in federal immigration custody walked free Thursday after a judge ruled her arrest violated basic legal protections. Meenu Batra, a longtime Texas interpreter and single mother of four, was released April 30 following a federal court order. Her attorney said the judge found that immigration officers denied her due process when they detained her without notice or a formal procedure.
Batra had been held for more than six weeks after her arrest at Valley International Airport in Harlingen. She was traveling to Milwaukee for work when federal agents took her into custody on March 17. Her lawyer, Deepak Ahluwalia, told CBS News that the judge ordered her immediate release. He said the court determined that authorities failed to follow proper legal steps before detaining her.
“The judge made it clear that her rights were violated,” Ahluwalia said. “There was no prior notice, no interview, and no formal process.”
Ahluwalia also said authorities cannot detain Batra again unless they follow proper procedures, including notifying her and allowing legal representation during any interview.
Batra challenged the legality of her arrest while in detention. In a sworn deposition, she said the officers who detained her did not wear uniforms or display visible badges. She argued that the lack of identification raised serious concerns about the lawfulness of the arrest. Her release hinged partly on these claims. The court reviewed the circumstances and found flaws in how authorities carried out the detention.
Batra came to the United States about 35 years ago after fleeing violence in India. She said her parents were killed because of their Sikh faith when she was a teenager. She applied for asylum but instead received “withholding of removal” status in 2000. This legal protection prevents deportation to a country where a person may face harm. However, it does not grant full legal residency and allows removal to a third country under certain conditions.
Batra said she believed her status allowed her to live and work in the United States without fear of deportation. “I am here, and I am legal and will not be removed,” she told CBS News earlier this month while in detention.
Batra has worked as a certified court interpreter for more than 20 years. She is highly sought after for her fluency in Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu. Her attorney said she is the only licensed interpreter in Texas for those languages, making her skills critical in courts across the country. Her four adult children are U.S. citizens. One of them serves in the U.S. Army. Ahluwalia said the family is now pursuing a green card for Batra through her son’s military service. He added they will request expedited processing and hope for approval within months.
Batra’s detention took a heavy emotional toll on her and her family. Her children said her absence left a deep void in their home near Brownsville. Ahluwalia said the experience affected her mental and emotional well-being. “This has broken her,” he said. “What she went through during detention will take time to heal.”
He added that her family feels relieved but remains concerned about her future. “The fight is not over,” he said. “We will continue to protect her rights and ensure she can remain in the United States.”
The Department of Homeland Security previously described Batra as an “illegal alien” in a statement to CBS News. The agency said employment authorization does not grant legal status. Officials have not publicly commented on the judge’s latest ruling.
Batra’s legal team now focuses on securing permanent residency and preventing any attempt to deport her to a third country. Her attorney said they will challenge any such move in court. For now, Batra has returned home to her family.
