NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Harlingen, TX, April 16, 2026: Meenu Batra, a longtime U.S. resident and court interpreter — and the mother of a U.S. military member — was detained by immigration authorities at a Texas airport while traveling for work, according to her attorney.
Batra, 52, was detained by plain-clothed officers at Harlingen International Airport on March 17, 2026, while on her way to provide interpretation for a trial, her lawyer, Deepak Ahluwalia, said in a social media post.
“She has been detained for over two weeks now,” Ahluwalia wrote, adding that he has filed a habeas corpus petition arguing that due process was not followed and that her Fifth Amendment rights were violated.
Batra has lived in the United States for more than 35 years, according to her attorney, and has held valid work authorization. She was granted withholding of removal in 2000 by an immigration judge, who found that she would “more likely than not suffer persecution in her home country.”
In his post, Ahluwalia alleged broader concerns about immigration enforcement. “What is completely bizarre in this case (along with others) under the current administration, is that they are detaining these individuals without any notice or motion, and circumventing the laws by removing them to countries like Sudan,” he wrote. “This is a clear violation of our laws and our client’s rights, and we will fight until she has been released.”
He further claimed that authorities are attempting to remove Batra to a third country without due process. “Now, ICE is attempting to remove her to a third country without any prior notice or hearing,” he wrote.
Batra is described by her legal team as a single mother of four, with her youngest son currently serving in the U.S. military.
Officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have not publicly commented on the case, and it remains unclear what led to the detention.
The information available so far is based on statements from Batra’s legal representatives, and further details may emerge as the case develops.
Cover photo courtesy: Deepak Ahluwalia/Instagram.
