A 73-year-old grandmother in California was reportedly detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), despite spending more than three decades in the United States.

Harjit Kaur was detained after showing up for a regular immigration appointment in San Francisco, according to local news reports.

Newsweek has contacted ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment via email.

Why It Matters

It comes as part of President Donald Trump‘s administration continues an immigration crackdown that some critics have described as aggressive, and in some cases arbitrary, notably regarding immigrants who have been living in the U.S. for years and have no legal record pertaining to violence or other felonious activity.

While ICE and DHS have faced increased scrutiny and backlash from critics amid the rise in detentions and deportations, the White House has remained consistent by saying that anyone living in the country unlawfully is considered to be a “criminal.”

What To Know

Kaur immigrated from India in 1992 as a single mother with two sons, WION News reported.

According to a Bring Harjit Home website that has been set up to call for her release, Kaur has complied with ICE check-ins every six months for more than 13 years after her asylum claim was denied.

It said that she had sought to obtain travel documents from the Indian Consulate, “but was turned away” and that she had been assured by ICE that “she could lawfully remain under supervision.”

The website says her detention is “not only cruel, but unnecessary.”

“At her age and with serious health issues like thyroid disease, migraines, knee pain, and anxiety, detention puts her life at risk. She has never refused to return to India, but cannot without documents,” it says.

“Harjit’s case represents a failure of our immigration system. She has been a contributing member of her community for decades, paying taxes, working legally, and building relationships with neighbors and friends. Her detention is not only cruel, but unnecessary—she poses no flight risk and has demonstrated her commitment to following the law for over 13 years.”

What People Are Saying

Harjit Kaur’s daughter-in-law, Manjit Kaur, told ABC7: “It’s been a total nightmare to find out she’s been detained. We didn’t expect it. She’s been doing ICE check-ins for 13 years.”

She added to KTVU: “She’s been here over 30 years, working, paying taxes. I don’t even think she has a speeding ticket, any type of violation like that. She’s a part of the community.”

California Democratic Representative John Garamendi told the station: “President Trump initially promised to go after the ‘worst of the worst’ in his immigration policy. Yet this administration’s decision to detain a 73-year-old woman—a respected member of the community with no criminal record who has faithfully reported to ICE every six months for more than 13 years is one more example of the misplaced priorities of Trump’s immigration enforcement. Our office will do everything possible to support her case and her family.”

What’s Next

Kaur is reportedly being detained in Bakersfield, California.

Moe than 10,000 people have signed petitions calling for Kaur’s release, according to the website calling for her release.