An Indian-born woman, Meenu Batra, has been detained at a US airport for the past 35 years, sparking international outrage. According to reports, Meenu Batra, 53, was arrested on March 17 at the Harlingen International Airport while traveling for a court case. She claims to have shown her legal status and work permit to the authorities, but was instead handcuffed and taken away.
Batra is a licensed court interpreter in three languages: Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu. She has been living in Texas, the US, since 1991 and has raised four children there, including a son who recently joined the US military. Her lawyer claims that the court had ruled in 2000 that she could not be deported to India due to safety concerns, but there is a possibility that the US government may deport her to a third country.
The Indian media reports that Batra was not given food, water, or medication for 24 hours after her arrest, and the authorities took pictures of her while she was handcuffed. Batra has described the treatment as humiliating. The Indiana State Police claim that Batra and four other Indian nationals were arrested on charges of human trafficking and smuggling, and have been charged with serious felony charges.
The situation has become more complex as the US authorities have not yet made it clear where Batra will be deported to. Her lawyer has stated that she may be deported to a third country, which has raised concerns. The Indian government has expressed its concern over the situation and is seeking clarification from the US authorities.
