Longtime courtroom interpreter detained by ICE says she worked in U.S. legally for decades: "You can't sleep because you're afraid"
Key Takeaways
- Meenu Batra, a certified courtroom interpreter for 20+ years and mother of four U.S. citizens, was arrested by ICE at a Texas airport while traveling for work.
- Batra currently holds "withholding of removal," a protection distinct from asylum that allows work but generally does not lead to permanent residency and can be lost if the person departs the U.S.
- It has been reported that the Department of Homeland Security called Batra an "illegal alien" and noted that employment authorization does not confer immigration status.
- The case highlights how people with long-term, limited protections can still face detention and removal, with direct consequences for families, courts that rely on certified interpreters, and immigrant workers nationwide.
Case overview
CBS News reports that 53-year-old Meenu Batra was arrested March 17 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Valley International Airport in Harlingen, Texas, while en route to a work assignment in Milwaukee. Batra, born in India and a certified interpreter in Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu, has worked in U.S. courts for more than 20 years. She told CBS she believed she was in the country legally and had her documents with her when officers detained her at the airport. It has been reported that the Department of Homeland Security described her as an "illegal alien" and emphasized that having authorization to work does not equal lawful immigration status.
Legal status explained
Batra was granted withholding of removal in 2000, a form of protection under U.S. immigration law that is different from asylum. Withholding of removal prevents the government from returning a person to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened, but it does not provide a path to lawful permanent resident status (a green card) and offers fewer benefits than asylum. Recipients can typically obtain employment authorization from USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services), but that work permit alone does not change their immigration classification. Batra’s attorney told CBS her status allows her to remain and work in the U.S. so long as she does not depart the country or commit certain crimes — a point that underscores how travel can be risky for people with withholding.
Human impact and wider implications
The arrest has immediate human consequences: Batra is a single mother of four adult U.S. citizens and her youngest son recently joined the U.S. Army. Her family members described fear, confusion and a sense of betrayal. For courts and defendants, the loss of a widely used certified interpreter can disrupt hearings and undermine access to justice for non-English speakers. More broadly, the case is a reminder that many immigrants who have lived and worked in the U.S. for decades remain vulnerable to detention and removal because some protective statuses do not provide long-term stability or routes to citizenship.
What this means for people in similar situations
If you or a family member hold withholding of removal or another temporary form of protection, be aware that travel outside the U.S. can trigger loss of that protection and possible detention at ports of entry or airports. Employment authorization documents (EADs) issued by USCIS enable work but do not equal permanent legal status. Those concerned should consult an immigration attorney promptly to review travel risks, filing options, and possible defenses against removal. This case may also prompt renewed calls from advocates and lawmakers for clearer paths to stability for people who have long contributed to U.S. communities but lack routes to permanent status.
Source: Original Article