THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
Harjit Kaur is a 73-year-old grandmother who lived in America for over 30 years. She worked hard as a seamstress, raised her family, and followed all the rules. Yet this elderly woman was treated like a dangerous criminal when immigration officials decided to deport her to India.
For more than ten years, Harjit Kaur did exactly what immigration officials told her to do. She went to her check-ins every time they asked. She never missed an appointment. She had no criminal record and caused no trouble. She was just an old woman trying to live peacefully with her family.
Cruel Treatment of an Elderly Woman
When officials decided to deport her, they treated her horribly. They put chains on this 73-year-old grandmother like she was a violent criminal. They kept her in a cold cell with no bed or chair for hours. They moved her from city to city without letting her family know where she was.
Even worse, they denied her basic needs. They would not give her enough water. They refused to give her vegetarian food, which is part of her religious beliefs. They would not give her toilet paper or let her keep clean. They even took away her medicine at first, which could have made her very sick.
Why This Was Wrong
Harjit Kaur deserved better treatment for many reasons. First, she is 73 years old. Elderly people need special care, not harsh treatment. They need their medicine, proper food, and comfortable places to rest.
Second, she had been following the law for over a decade. She was not hiding or running away. She came to every meeting they asked for. She tried many times to get the papers they wanted from the Indian government.
Third, she was no danger to anyone. She was a grandmother who worked as a seamstress. She went to her temple and lived quietly with her family. There was no reason to treat her like a criminal.
A Community Speaks Out
The people in her community knew this treatment was wrong. More than 10,000 people signed papers asking officials to let her go. They held protests with signs saying “Hands off our grandma.” Even people who did not know her personally could see that this was not right.
Her family was heartbroken. Her daughter-in-law said Harjit had always tried to do the right thing and get the proper papers. For 13 years, immigration officials had been trying to get travel documents, but that was not Harjit’s fault.
This case shows a big problem with how America treats elderly immigrants. Age should matter when making these decisions. A 73-year-old grandmother who has lived peacefully in a community for 30 years should not be treated the same way as someone who has broken laws or caused problems.
The way Harjit Kaur was treated during her detention was especially cruel. No elderly person should be chained, denied medicine, or kept in uncomfortable conditions. These actions went against basic human dignity.
Conclusion
Harjit Kaur’s story is sad and unnecessary. She was an old woman who followed the rules, worked hard, and never hurt anyone. She deserved to be treated with respect and kindness, especially because of her age. Instead, she was treated cruelly and separated from her family.
This case reminds us that we must think carefully about how we treat elderly people in our immigration system. Age, health, family ties, and years of good behavior should all matter when making these important decisions. No 73-year-old grandmother should have to go through what Harjit Kaur experienced.
References
1.https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-grandmother-detained-ice-check-ins-immigration-rcna231685
2.https://www.businesstoday.in/india/story/73-year-old-woman-deported-after-30-years-in-us-sparks-outrage-protests-495777-2025-09-25
3.https://www.sikhcoalition.org/blog/2025/on-bibi-harjit-kaur-and-the-trump-administrations-immigration-enforcement-practices/
4.https://americanbazaaronline.com/2025/09/15/hands-off-our-grandma-ice-detains-73-year-old-harjit-kaur-after-33-years-in-us-467602/
5.https://www.visaverge.com/news/who-is-harjit-kaur-73-year-old-grandmother-detained-without-warning/
