Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today. Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, announced that he is leaving his State of the Union Address guest seat empty in order to honor Harjit Kaur, a 73-year-old grandmother and local constituent who, despite living in the United States, was cruelly detained and later deported by ICE. In response to this announcement, Congressman Garamendi released the following statement:
“I am dedicating my State of the Union guest seat to my former constituent, 73-year-old grandmother Harjit Kaur. She is unfortunately unable to attend because she was cruelly deported to India in the dead of night. This seat is for her and every person across the country that’s been caged, detained, and killed at the hands of Trump’s secret police force. Let her empty seat be a stark symbol of the human cost of Trump’s cruel deportation agenda.
“President Trump promised to go after the “worst of the worst’ in his immigration policy. Yet his administration’s decision to cruelly deport a 73-year-old grandmother with no criminal record—who faithfully reported to ICE every six months for more than 13 years—is one more example of the thousands of individuals across the country whose lives and families have been upended by Trump’s ICE.
“Unfortunately, this has become far too common under Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda. I dedicate this seat to Harjit, to her family, and to everyone affected by this rogue administration.”
Background:
Harjit Kaur, 73, had lived in the United States since the early 1990s and was a constituent of Congressman John Garamendi. After her asylum case was denied in 2012, she complied with ICE check-ins in San Francisco every six months for more than 13 years.
On September 8, 2025, she was detained during a routine check-in and held at an ICE facility in Bakersfield, California. She was transferred to the Mesa Verde Detention Facility the following day.
On September 19, at approximately 2:00 a.m., she was transported in handcuffs from Bakersfield to Los Angeles and flown to Georgia without notice to her attorney or family. Shortly thereafter, she was placed on a charter flight to India.
Her whereabouts were unknown for more than 24 hours. Although her family had arranged commercial travel and planned to accompany her to India, she was deported without the opportunity to say goodbye.
Ms. Kaur had sought travel documents from the Indian Consulate but was reportedly turned away multiple times. She had not refused to return to India but could not depart without valid documents. ICE had previously allowed her to remain under supervision with work authorization.
During her detention, she was held for hours without a bed or chair; forced to sleep on the floor; shackled during transfers; denied vegetarian meals consistent with her religious beliefs; restricted from showering; denied access to prescribed medications; and denied adequate water. At one point, she was given only a bowl of ice after not receiving a meal for over a day.
According to her attorney, she received only one of several prescribed medications and did not see a doctor or nurse despite repeated requests. She had undergone double knee replacement surgery and suffered from thyroid disease and chronic migraines.
During Harjit’s detention, Rep. Garamendi’s district and Washington, D.C., offices contacted the Indian Embassy and Consulate regarding travel documents and raised her case directly with DHS officials, expressing concerns about broader conditions in ICE detention facilities nationwide.
Following her return to India, she has remained in contact with her family but has continued to experience health issues without nearby relatives to assist her.
Harjit Kaur’s story was featured in NBC, BBC, and throughout Northern California.