SouthernWorldwide.com – A Texas mother of four has voiced her profound fear of being detained again by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after spending over six weeks in their custody.
Meenu Batra, a court translator originally from India, stated in an exclusive interview with CBS News that she feels “absolutely” unsafe and that “no one is safe.” Despite her ordeal, she expressed a belief in the system and confidence in her documentation.
Batra, who has been living and working legally in the U.S. for decades, was arrested on March 17 at a Texas airport while en route to Milwaukee for work. She was subsequently held for 45 days at the El Valle Detention Facility in Raymondville, Texas.
During her detention, Batra recounted being told she was in the country illegally. She insisted to officials that she had her documents with her. The experience left her feeling diminished, stating, “you become small. You start to believe that perhaps you are not equal, that you are not human.”
She further noted that many of the women she encountered in ICE detention were not violent criminals, contrary to the Trump administration’s stated enforcement priorities. Batra expressed guilt about leaving these women behind.
Last week, a federal judge ordered Batra’s release, deeming her detention to have been without “no discernible reason.” While her children are relieved by her return, they are still struggling with the trauma of the event.
“My daughter doesn’t sleep at night time,” Batra shared. “She keeps watch on me. Anytime a car passes by, she becomes fearful that somebody is here to … get you.”
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Batra’s journey to the U.S. began when she fled India as a teenager following the killing of her parents, who were members of the Sikh community, amidst violence against religious followers. She applied for asylum and was granted “withholding of removal” status, which, however, did not qualify her for citizenship.
A potential path to citizenship has emerged through her son, Jasper, who recently joined the Army. Parents of U.S. service members are eligible to apply for this status.
Batra’s habeas petition, challenging the legality of her detainment, remains pending against the U.S. government.
In response to the case, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a statement to CBS News. They asserted that Batra, described as an “illegal alien from India,” was arrested during a targeted enforcement operation. The DHS statement indicated that an immigration judge had issued a final order of removal for Batra in 2000 and that she had entered the country illegally at an unspecified time and location. They also attributed her release to an “activist judge appointed by Barack Obama” and vowed to continue efforts to remove individuals deemed to have no legal right to be in the country.
Batra characterized the DHS statement as “very disrespectful to the judges and judiciary.” She emphasized the humanity and rights of all individuals, stating, “They forget that aliens are humans and humans have rights.”
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