A 73-year-old Sikh woman, Harjit Kaur, has bravely shared her deeply distressing experience of deportation from the United States after residing there for over 30 years. Her story, shared with Humans of Bombay, details the trauma she endured after being detained by U.S. immigration officials in California and her subsequent return to Punjab, a place that now feels foreign to her.
Kaur described the ordeal, which began on September 8th during what she believed was a routine immigration check-in. She was arrested and informed her granddaughter, who was waiting outside, that she was being taken into custody. “At 73, they took me from the place I called home for more than 30 years – like I was a criminal,” Kaur stated, her voice trembling as she recalled the terrifying memories of her detention.
She recounted spending a night in a cold detention room with only a metal bench and being given a foil sheet instead of a blanket. Handcuffed and leg-cuffed when moved, she struggled to even climb into the van. Her medication was also withheld.
Furthermore, Kaur faced significant challenges with food, stating that for the first week, only meat was served, despite her vegetarian diet. She survived on chips and biscuits until she finally received a vegetarian meal on September 14th. “I felt like my life didn’t matter,” she expressed, highlighting the dehumanizing conditions.
Kaur had initially arrived in the U.S. in 1992 with her sons, who later became citizens through marriage. She had applied for asylum and, although her final appeal was denied in 2012, she diligently reported to immigration authorities for 13 years, adhering to all rules. Her life in the U.S. had been fulfilling; she worked six days a week and was deeply involved in her grandchildren’s lives.
When she was detained, her family acted quickly to secure her release. Her lawyer discovered that immigration authorities had never formally submitted a request for her travel documents. Despite attempts to have her released to her family to say goodbye with dignity, she was transferred to a facility in Georgia, where she endured further hardship, including not being allowed to shower and sleeping on the floor.
Kaur eventually landed in Delhi on September 24th, along with 132 other deportees, and is now residing in Punjab with her brother. Despite being back in India, she remains haunted by the memories of her detention, feeling disconnected from her family and her homeland, and unsure how to rebuild her life.