Texas mother of 4 says "no one is safe" after spending more than 6 weeks in ICE custody
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- Meenu Batra, a Texas single mother of four and legal U.S. resident originally from India, was detained by ICE for 45 days after being arrested at a Texas airport despite having legal documents.
- A federal judge ordered Batra's release, ruling her detention had "no discernible reason," but she remains fearful of future detainment and is pursuing a habeas petition against the government.
- Batra fled India as a teenager after violence against the Sikh community and was granted withholding of removal status, which does not allow citizenship; however, her son's recent Army enlistment provides a path to citizenship.
- The Department of Homeland Security labeled Batra an "illegal alien" with a final removal order from 2000 and criticized the judge's decision to release her, while Batra condemned DHS's statement as disrespectful to the judiciary and human rights.
- Batra described the emotional toll of detention on herself and her family, noting her children's ongoing fear and trauma from the experience.
