The recent deportation of Harjit Kaur, a 73-year-old Sikh woman, from the United States to India has sparked outrage and drawn attention to the treatment of elderly immigrants within the U.S. immigration system. Kaur, who had lived in the U.S. for over three decades, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a routine check-in on September 8, 2025.

Kaur's journey to the U.S. began in 1992 when she immigrated as a single mother with her two sons, fleeing political turmoil in Punjab. For over 30 years, she resided in the East Bay area of Northern California, working and becoming a respected member of her community. She worked at a cloth store in Berkeley for over two decades until she had to quit in January 2025 due to complications from knee surgeries. Although her asylum case was denied in 2012, Kaur faithfully complied with ICE regulations, diligently reporting every six months for over 13 years.

Despite her consistent compliance, Kaur was detained while attending a routine check-in with immigration officials. Her lawyer, Deepak Ahluwalia, stated that Kaur was given no advance notice and was not allowed to say goodbye to her family or collect her belongings. According to Ahluwalia, Kaur was abruptly moved from Bakersfield to Los Angeles and placed on a chartered flight to Georgia before being deported to New Delhi. He also stated that the family's requests to have her return on a commercial flight and to allow her a few hours to meet with her family were denied.

During her detention, Kaur allegedly faced harsh and inhumane conditions. Ahluwalia described how Kaur, despite having undergone double knee replacement surgery, was denied a bed and forced to sleep on a cold concrete floor with only a thin blanket for nearly 70 hours. He added that she was denied a shower and was instead given wet wipes to clean up before boarding the plane from Georgia to Armenia. Kaur also claimed she was given a plate of ice instead of food and was denied her medication on the flight.

News of Kaur's detention and deportation sparked immediate protests and outrage from her family, community members, and activists. Demonstrators held signs that read "Hands off our grandma" and "Bring grandma home". Many have criticized ICE's decision to deport Kaur, calling it inhumane and a misplacement of priorities. Representative John Garamendi (D-Calif.) called her detention "a clear example of misplaced priorities". The Sikh Coalition described her treatment as a violation of basic standards.

Kaur's deportation highlights the ongoing debate surrounding immigration policies and the treatment of vulnerable individuals within the system. Her case has raised questions about the balance between enforcing immigration laws and upholding human dignity, especially for elderly, long-term residents who have contributed to society and followed the rules.