Washington, February 21: A senior Democratic lawmaker paid tribute to 73-year-old Indian American Harjeet Kaur by leaving her guest seat empty during the State of the Union address. Kaur was deported to India after being detained by U.S. immigration authorities.
Congressman John Garamendi stated that he dedicated the seat to Kaur, a former constituent who was deported last year.
In his statement, he said, “I dedicate my State of the Union guest seat to 73-year-old grandmother Harjeet Kaur. Unfortunately, she could not attend this event because she was brutally deported to India at midnight. This seat is for her and for all those who have been detained, imprisoned, or lost their lives under Trump’s harsh immigration policies. Her empty seat symbolizes the human cost of these policies.”
Kaur had been living in the U.S. since the early 1990s. Her asylum case was denied in 2012, but she continued to check in with immigration officials in San Francisco every six months for over 13 years.
On September 8, 2025, she was detained during a routine check and held at an immigration center in Bakersfield, California. The following day, she was transferred to the Mesa Verde Detention Center.
On September 19, around 2:00 AM, she was handcuffed and transported from Bakersfield to Los Angeles, then sent to Georgia without notifying her lawyer or family. Shortly after, she was placed on a charter flight to India. For over 24 hours, her whereabouts were unknown. Although her family had arranged commercial travel to accompany her to India, she was deported without a chance to say goodbye.
Garamendi remarked, “President Trump claimed he would take action against dangerous criminals. However, sending a 73-year-old grandmother with no criminal record, who had been checking in regularly for 13 years, shows that thousands of families have been affected by this policy.”
According to the congressman’s office, Kaur faced numerous hardships during her detention. She was kept without a bed or chair for hours, forced to sleep on the floor, and was shackled during transfers. She was not provided vegetarian meals in accordance with her religious beliefs, had limited access to showers, did not receive necessary medications on time, and was even given only a bowl of ice after going an entire day without food.
Her lawyer noted that she was not allowed to see a doctor or nurse despite multiple requests. Kaur had previously undergone knee surgery and suffers from thyroid issues and chronic migraines. After returning to India, she has been in contact with her family, but her health problems persist, and no family members are nearby to assist her.
immigration policy in the U.S. has been a significant political issue in recent years, particularly during Donald Trump’s presidency. India is among the countries whose citizens face immigration enforcement in the U.S.
