The Bay Area community is rallying behind Harjit Kaur, a 73-year-old grandmother and undocumented immigrant from Hercules who ICE detained despite a history of compliance with immigration officials. According to ABC7 News, Kaur, a seamstress known for her work at Sari Palace in Berkeley, showed up to a regular immigration appointment in San Francisco and was subsequently detained and held in Bakersfield, far from her family. Manjit Kaur, her daughter-in-law, expressed shock and devastation, stating, "She's been doing ICE check-ins for 13 years."
Protests erupted in support of Kaur, with residents expressing alarm over her treatment by federal officials. "When we got news of this, we were horrified. How can the federal government be taking a 73-year-old woman who has medical issues into custody when she's been doing everything that's been required of her for the past 13 years," protestor Chris Mathias told ABC7 News. Kaur has been held at the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center, a facility scrutinized for failing to provide basic health care or maintain proper records of detainees, as reported by The Mercury News. Efforts to communicate with Kaur had been fraught with technical issues and emotional strains, as Manjit Kaur recounted unsuccessful attempts to connect via phone due to failed credit card transactions.
Among those fighting for Kaur's cause is the office of Congressman John Garamendi, who has been actively demanding her release. As per The Mercury News, Garamendi directly challenged the administration's priorities, stating, "President Trump initially promised to go after the 'worst of the worst' in his immigration policy. Yet this administration’s decision to detain a 73-year-old woman—a respected member of the community with no criminal record who has faithfully reported to ICE every six months for more than 13 years – is one more example of the misplaced priorities of Trump’s immigration enforcement."
