A longtime Texas court interpreter and mother of four who was detained by federal immigration authorities in March has been released from custody after a federal judge ruled her due process rights were violated, her attorney told CBS News.
Meenu Batra, a certified court interpreter of Indian origin, was released Thursday (April 30) after spending nearly seven weeks in custody following her arrest by federal immigration officials at Valley International Airport in Harlingen, Texas.
“We are thrilled. It has been a long six to seven weeks,” Batra’s lawyer Deepak Ahluwalia told the newspaper.
“We knew this moment would come. We hoped it wouldn’t take this long,” he added.
According to Ahluwalia, a federal district judge ordered Batra’s immediate release after ruling that her due process rights were violated during the arrest process.
Ahluwalia told the paper that the judge found that Batra had been detained without prior notice, interview or formal legal process.
Arrested during a business trip
Batra was arrested on March 17 as he prepared to travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a work assignment.
She worked for more than two decades as a certified court interpreter and was reportedly sought after nationally for her fluency in Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu.
Batra’s lawyer said the legal battle continues despite her release.
“The fight is not over,” Ahluwalia told CBS News.
“We got Meena out, but now it’s about keeping her here, making sure that all forms of assistance that she’s entitled to are considered as she sits here and fights any attempt to send her to a third country that she has no prior relationship with and no relationship with, and we’re going to fight to the end,” he said.
According to Ahluwalia, Batra cannot be turned back unless immigration authorities provide formal notice and an interview in the presence of legal counsel.
A long history of immigration
Born in India, Batra fled to the United States about 35 years ago after her parents were killed for their Sikh faith.
She later applied for asylum in the US.
In 2000, Batra was granted “withholding of removal,” an immigration protection that prevents deportation to a country where an individual may face persecution, even if it differs from formal asylum status.
Earlier this month, Batra reportedly spoke to an exit from the El Valle Detention Facility in Raymondville, Texas, where she described her understanding of her immigration status.
“I’m here and I’m legal and I’m not going to be removed, so I have nothing to worry about. And I can live and work. And that’s all I wanted to do,” Batra told the paper.
The family is looking for a way to permanent residence
Ahluwalia said Batra’s legal team is now working to secure permanent residency for her through her youngest son, Jasper, who is serving in the US military.
A lawyer told CBS News they plan to request expedited processing of her green card application and hope it could be approved within four to six months.
All four of Batra’s grown children – Amrita, Lucas, Aaryan and Jasper – are US citizens.
