HERCULES, CA (Rajeev Sharma): A wave of community anger and emotional appeals is sweeping through California’s East Bay after Harjit Kaur, a 73-year-old grandmother and longtime resident, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last week. Her detention has sparked growing protests, social media campaigns, and pressure on elected officials — all united by a single demand: “Bring Harjit Home.”
Kaur, a widowed immigrant from Punjab, India, has lived in Hercules since the early 1990s. On September 8, what was supposed to be a routine check-in with immigration officials in San Francisco turned into a nightmare for her family. Instead of returning home, Kaur was detained and transferred to the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center in Bakersfield the next day.
The abrupt action has shocked her family and the broader community, who describe her as a model resident — quiet, responsible, and deeply connected to her faith and neighborhood.
“She has been here more than 30 years, paid her dues, followed every instruction ICE ever gave her, and now this?” said her daughter-in-law, Manjit Kaur, during a public rally Friday. “She is not hiding. She’s not resisting. She’s always done what they asked. Why now?”
More than 200 residents gathered Friday afternoon in El Sobrante near the local Sikh temple, many holding handmade signs with slogans like “Free Harjit Kaur” and “No Cages for Elders.” The demonstration was organized by a coalition of local groups, including Indivisible West Contra Costa, the Sikh Center, and members of the Hercules and Richmond communities.
Granddaughter Sukhdeep Kaur gave an impassioned speech at the rally, calling her grandmother “a pillar of strength, not just for our family, but for the entire neighborhood.”
“She’s everyone’s grandma,” Sukhdeep said. “She cooks for the whole block, walks to the gurdwara every weekend, and still volunteers at local events. This isn’t just about immigration. This is about humanity.”
Kaur’s legal situation stems from a denied asylum application in 2012. Since then, she has remained under ICE supervision, regularly attending check-ins and attempting to obtain travel documents from the Indian Consulate — efforts that have reportedly failed due to bureaucratic obstacles. According to her family, ICE itself was never able to secure the documents required to deport her, and she was allowed to remain in the country under supervision.
“She never missed a check-in, never violated the law, never posed a risk to anyone,” said Hercules City Councilmember Dilli Bhattarai, who attended the protest and called the detention “inhumane and unnecessary.”
Bhattarai emphasized that Hercules is a sanctuary city. “We don’t treat people like this — especially seniors, especially people who have lived here peacefully for decades. Harjit Kaur deserves to be with her family, not locked away in a detention facility.”
Concerns are also mounting over Kaur’s physical and mental health. Her family reports that she suffers from multiple health issues — including thyroid disease, severe migraines, joint pain, and anxiety — and is currently not receiving proper medical care at the detention center.
“She sounded broken,” Manjit said, describing a phone call with Kaur from earlier in the week. “She was crying, asking us to get her out. She doesn’t understand why this is happening now, after all these years of following the rules.”
Local leaders, including Representative John Garamendi and State Assemblymember Alex Lee, have expressed support for the family and are pressuring ICE for her release. Garamendi’s office confirmed that a formal inquiry has been submitted and criticized the detention as a waste of federal resources.
“This is a clear case of misplaced priorities,” Garamendi said in a statement. “ICE should be focusing on individuals who actually pose a danger to public safety — not detaining grandmothers with clean records.”
In response, the family has launched a campaign website — bringharjithome.com — to mobilize public support. The site includes contact information for elected officials and urges supporters to call, email, and demand action.
The campaign is gaining traction online, with hundreds posting messages of support using the hashtag #BringHarjitHome. Advocates say the case highlights deeper concerns about how immigration enforcement is applied, especially when elderly and long-term residents are involved.
As the community continues to organize, Harjit’s loved ones wait anxiously for a resolution. “We just want her home,” Sukhdeep said quietly. “Not in a detention center. Not behind bars. Just home, where she belongs.”
