Texas immigration court interpreter detained by ICE says ‘they want to make me disappear’

The Guardian US News
by Maanvi Singh
April 16, 2026
2 min read

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The Bottom Line

An immigration court interpreter was detained by ICE after 35 years in the US and fears deportation.

How This Affects You

This raises concerns about due process and access to justice for non-English speakers if court interpreters are detained.

AI Summary

Meenu Batra, a Texas immigration court interpreter, was detained by ICE after living in the US for over 35 years. Batra, who is the state’s only licensed Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu interpreter, claims she was treated "like a criminal" during her detention. She fears deportation to a country she has never known, stating "they want to make me disappear." Her arrest raises questions about the detention practices of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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