Meenu Batra, an Indian-origin woman who has lived in the United States since 1991, was released from six weeks of ICE detention but has not yet secured legal status, her attorney Deepak Ahluwalia confirmed. Though no longer in custody, Batra remains vulnerable to deportation and is pursuing military parole as the mother of a U.S. Army service member, which could pave the way for a Green Card.

Batra, who entered the U.S. without documentation but obtained 'suspension of removal' in 2000 due to fear of persecution in India, had never been contacted by immigration authorities before her arrest during a work trip. Ahluwalia called the detention unnecessary, noting she has paid taxes and worked as a court-certified legal interpreter for decades. ICE did not identify a third country for potential deportation, and a prior court order bars her removal to India.

The attorney alleged systemic issues in immigration enforcement, saying ICE operations are driven by arrest quotas and that private detention centers profit from prolonged detentions. He also claimed racial targeting, arguing Batra's treatment was intended to instill fear among immigrant communities.

Ahluwalia said Batra, a survivor of the Sikh genocide in India, described the arrest as deeply traumatic despite her resilience. Her legal team is now formally pursuing military parole, a pathway available to certain family members of active-duty U.S. service members.

The U.S. government has not yet responded to the parole request, and Batra's case remains under review by immigration authorities.