RAYMONDVILLE, TX — A 53-year-old single mother and veteran Texas court interpreter is currently being held in a federal detention facility after what she describes as a “degrading” and “humiliating” arrest by federal immigration officers.
Meenu Batra, who has lived in the United States for 35 years, was detained on March 17 at Valley International Airport. Despite having a “withholding of removal” order and a valid work authorization, Batra remains in custody at the El Valle Detention Facility, leaving her four adult U.S. citizen children desperate for her release.
The Arrest: ‘Do You Know You Are Here Illegally?’
Batra, a certified interpreter in Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu, was traveling to Milwaukee for a work assignment when she was stopped at a TSA checkpoint. According to a sworn affidavit, an ICE officer questioned her status. When Batra explained she had withholding of removal protection, the officer reportedly replied, “That doesn’t mean you can be here forever.”
Batra alleges she was handcuffed, taken to a field office, and forced to pose for a “social media” photo with officers—an experience she says made her feel like a criminal.
A Life Built in Texas
Batra’s story is rooted in a tragic past. She fled to the U.S. as a teenager after her parents were killed during a state pogrom against Sikhs in India in the 1980s.
- Legal Status: In 2000, an immigration judge granted her “withholding of removal,” a status given to those who would likely face persecution in their home country.
- Community Contribution: For over 20 years, she has served the Texas judicial system. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) noted that Batra is the only Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu court interpreter in the state.
- Military Connection: Her 18-year-old son, Jasper Jai Dolezal, has expedited his military enlistment to apply for “parole-in-place” to help secure his mother’s status.
The Government’s Stance
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintains that Batra is an “illegal alien” with a final order of removal from 2000. In a statement, a spokesperson claimed:
“Employment authorization does NOT confer any type of legal status in the United States… She will remain in ICE custody pending removal and will receive full due process.”
The government has not specified if they intend to deport her to India or a “third country,” a controversial policy currently being debated in federal courts.
Conditions Inside El Valle
Batra describes the Raymondville facility as a “storage facility for humans,” sharing space with roughly 100 other women. She and her family allege:
- Medical Neglect: Batra reportedly went 24 hours without food or water and was denied cholesterol medication for two days.
- Health Decline: Her daughter, Amrita Singh, says Batra has developed a respiratory illness due to unsanitary conditions.
- Mental Health Crisis: Batra claims to have witnessed attempted suicides among other detainees.
Outcry from Local Leaders
The Texas Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (TAJIT) and Representative Joaquin Castro have called for her release. Castro argued that the “mass deportation campaign” is targeting contributing members of the community rather than “the worst of the worst.”
What do you think, Texas? Should a longtime professional with humanitarian protections be detained for deportation? Or is the government right to enforce a 26-year-old removal order?
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
