A 73-year-old woman from California’s East Bay has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), triggering widespread outrage and community protests. Harjit Kaur, an immigrant from India who has lived in the U.S. for over 30 years, was taken into custody last week despite having no criminal record and consistently complying with immigration protocols for more than a decade.

According to The Indian Express, Kaur had been reporting to the ICE office in San Francisco every six months since her asylum case was denied in 2012. During her most recent routine check-in on Monday, September 8, she was asked to submit additional paperwork — and was unexpectedly detained. The following day, she was transferred to a detention center in Bakersfield.

News of her detention quickly spread, sparking outrage and emotional reactions from both family and the local community. On Friday evening, dozens gathered at the intersection of Appian Way and San Pablo Dam Road in El Sobrante, Contra Costa County, holding signs that read “She’s no criminal,” “Hands off our grandma,” and “Bring Grandma Home.” Passing cars honked in support, amplifying the public outcry.

“She’s everyone’s grandma,” said her granddaughter, Sukhdeep Kaur, speaking to Berkleyside. “She’s a mother figure — independent, selfless, and hard-working. I never thought something like this would happen, especially given her history and how deeply she’s rooted in this community. It’s just outrageous.”

Harjit Kaur had been a long-time resident of Hercules and was a familiar face at the El Sobrante Sikh Gurdwara. She also worked for over 20 years at Sari Palace, a popular clothing store on University Avenue in Berkeley.

Despite the denial of her asylum case over a decade ago, Kaur had remained fully compliant with immigration authorities. Her family and supporters argue that her sudden detention is not only unjust but deeply unsettling, given her age, spotless record, and longstanding contributions to the local community.

Calls for her release are growing louder, as community members demand compassion and justice for someone they say has only ever given back.