EL SOBRANTE, CA: Community members in California’s East Bay are demanding the immediate release of Harjit Kaur, a 73-year-old Punjabi grandmother who has lived in the U.S. for more than three decades and was recently detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The unexpected detention has sparked emotional protests, with locals rallying behind the cry: “Bring Harjit Home.”
Kaur, a longtime resident of Hercules, was taken into ICE custody on September 8 during what her family believed would be a routine immigration check-in in San Francisco. Instead, she was held overnight and transferred to the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center in Bakersfield the following day.
“She’s done everything by the book,” said her granddaughter, Sukhdeep Kaur, during a community rally on Friday. “She’s not a threat. She’s a grandmother. She’s our strength.” Holding back tears, Sukhdeep addressed a crowd of nearly 200 people gathered at the intersection near the El Sobrante Sikh Gurdwara, waving signs that read “Hands Off Our Grandma” and “Bring Grandma Home.”
Harjit immigrated to the U.S. from India in 1992 as a single mother raising two sons. Since her asylum claim was denied in 2012, she has remained under ICE supervision without incident and with full compliance, according to family members and local officials.
“She has lived here peacefully for over 30 years,” said Hercules City Council member Dilli Bhattarai, who joined the rally. “She’s not just a resident; she’s part of our fabric. To detain her now, at this age, under these circumstances — it defies common sense and compassion.”
Bhattarai, himself an immigrant, emphasized that Kaur had followed all legal requirements and presented no risk to public safety. “We pride ourselves on being a sanctuary city. That means standing by people like Harjit who respect the law and contribute to our communities.”
Harjit’s family and supporters say the detention is not only unjust but also dangerous. She suffers from multiple health conditions — including thyroid disease, chronic migraines, knee pain, and anxiety — and relatives claim she is not receiving adequate medical care while in detention.
“We could hear the fear in her voice,” said her daughter-in-law Manjit Kaur, who broke down while speaking to the crowd. “She kept asking us to get her out. She’s scared and in pain. And we don’t even know if she’s getting her medications.”
According to the family, ICE has been trying for over a decade to secure travel documents from the Indian government in order to deport Kaur, but those requests have been repeatedly denied. Until now, ICE had assured her that she could remain under supervision while efforts to obtain the necessary documents continued.
“She’s not hiding. She’s not running. She checks in when they ask. She tried to get her own travel documents, and even that didn’t work,” Manjit said.
Congressman John Garamendi’s office has intervened, describing the detention as a misuse of government resources. “ICE should be targeting individuals who pose a real threat,” a spokesperson for Garamendi said. “Detaining a 73-year-old grandmother who’s been fully compliant is a poor use of time and taxpayer dollars.”
State Assemblymember Alex Lee also voiced support, stating Harjit “has done everything asked of her, and she deserves dignity and fairness.”
A growing coalition of organizations, including Indivisible West Contra Costa and the Sikh Center of San Francisco Bay Area, has rallied behind Kaur’s cause. Community leaders have launched a campaign website — bringharjithome.com — urging the public to contact their representatives and demand her release. The site includes contact forms for officials such as Senators Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler, Congressman Garamendi, and even the White House.
Religious leaders from the local Sikh community have also voiced concern, describing Kaur as a familiar and beloved presence at the El Sobrante Gurdwara. “She’s like family to us,” said Gurdeep Singh, a representative from the temple. “To see her locked away is heartbreaking.”
As the calls to “Bring Harjit Home” grow louder, her family continues to hold out hope for her release — and for compassion to prevail over bureaucracy.
“She’s not just our grandmother,” said Sukhdeep. “She belongs to this whole community. And this community is ready to fight for her.”
