Meenu Batra, a courtroom interpreter in Texas, was detained by the Department of Homeland Security after decades of living in the U.S. She faced a harrowing six-week detention, reflecting on her experiences as a migrant and advocating for others in similar situations.

• 01Meenu Batra has lived in the U.S. since 1991 after fleeing anti-Sikh violence in India, where her parents were killed.
• 02She was detained by DHS at an airport while on her way to interpret for a trial, labeled as an 'illegal alien' despite her long-standing legal status.
• 03Batra spent over six weeks in detention, where she helped other detainees understand their legal rights.
• 04A federal judge granted her a temporary restraining order, allowing her to return home but with ongoing uncertainty about her immigration status.
• 05Batra emphasizes the need for compassion in immigration enforcement and aims to raise awareness about the struggles of detainees.

Batra's detention has raised awareness about the treatment of migrants in the U.S. immigration system.