Indian-Origin Woman Detained by ICE During Green Card Biometrics Appointment
Indian-origin woman detained after 30 years in US.
A 60-year-old Indian-origin woman, Babblejit "Bubbly" Kaur, was unexpectedly detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on December 1 during what was supposed to be a routine biometrics appointment for her approved green card application. Kaur, who has resided in the United States since 1994 with no criminal record, was taken into custody at a USCIS facility, leaving her family in shock and without immediate explanation from authorities.
Her daughter, Joti Kaur, recounted that federal agents arrived at the office, and her mother was summoned to a back room where she was informed of her arrest. Despite a brief phone call to her attorney, Kaur was shackled and transferred overnight to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in California, a facility converted from a former federal prison.
The family endured hours of uncertainty before locating her through the ICE detainee system. At Adelanto, Kaur is held in a large dormitory-style room with dozens of other detainees, enduring constant lighting, noise, and limited sleep, alongside restricted visiting hours that often require full-day waits for brief encounters.
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Kaur and her husband, a lawful permanent resident, built a life in Long Beach, California, where they operated Natraj Cuisine of India and Nepal for over two decades, becoming integral to the local community. She also worked for 25 years at a Rite Aid pharmacy and has three children, including US citizens and one with DACA status.
Community support has rallied, with Democratic Congressman Robert Garcia advocating for her release and describing the detention as horrific, while a GoFundMe campaign has raised over $26,000 for legal and related expenses. As of mid-December 2025, Kaur remains in custody with no disclosed reason from the Department of Homeland Security and ongoing legal efforts for potential bond release.
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