Indian Immigrant, 60, Detained by ICE During Green Card Interview Amid Enforcement Surge Background
Babblejit “Bubbly” Kaur, a 60-year-old Indian-born U.S. resident, has lived in Southern California since 1994. Shortly after immigrating, Kaur and her husband Singh settled in Long Beach and became local business owners. For over two decades, they operated Natraj Cuisine of India and Nepal on Belmont Shore’s 2nd Street, becoming a cherished part of the Long Beach community, according to friends and neighbors. Kaur also worked 25 years at a nearby pharmacy until it closed.
The couple has three adult children: two are U.S. citizens, and their youngest daughter, age 34, holds DACA status. Over the years, the family pursued legal residency. Kaur’s green card petition, sponsored by her U.S. citizen daughter, had been approved, and she was awaiting a final interview to obtain permanent residency.
Green Card Appointment and Arrest
Kaur’s detention occurred on December 1, 2025, during what was supposed to be the final step in her green card process. According to family accounts, she went to an immigration office in Long Beach for a routine biometric scan, a quick appointment normally scheduled by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Family members reported that while Kaur was at the reception desk, two cars pulled up and roughly a dozen federal agents entered the office. She was called into a side room where agents informed her she was being arrested. Despite having no criminal record, Kaur was handcuffed and taken into custody. She was briefly allowed an eight-minute phone call to her attorney, but afterward remained detained. The family was not informed of her whereabouts until hours later, when an ICE detainee locator showed she had been transferred to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in Southern California during the night. Her daughter described the moment: “She was loaded into a van… with her hands and feet shackled,” adding that Bubbly “was really scared.”
Family and Community Reaction
News of Kaur’s arrest immediately shocked her community. Her daughter described the experience as “a nightmare,” insisting her mother “doesn’t belong there” and calling the detention “so inhumane.” Friends and neighbors organized support, with a local restaurant owner starting an online fundraiser, expressing outrage that ICE would detain “a bright light in the community,” referring to Kaur’s decades of service. A longtime pastor in Belmont Shore highlighted the family’s roots, noting that their restaurant had long embodied the neighborhood’s tradition of welcoming small businesses.
The case also drew attention from public officials. Rep. Robert Garcia, whose district includes Long Beach, condemned the detention, calling it a terrorizing experience for hardworking people and urging the public to “continue to tell her story.” His office confirmed that they had contacted federal authorities on Kaur’s behalf and formally requested her release. Kaur’s lawyers were preparing to file a temporary restraining order to allow her release on bond while the case proceeds. The case exemplifies broader issues where long-time immigrants with U.S. citizen family members face sudden detention.
Detention Conditions
Kaur remains at the Adelanto detention center, where family members report harsh conditions. She is housed in a large dormitory room with dozens of other detainees, with constant noise making sleep nearly impossible. Visiting hours are limited, and relatives often must wait a full day for brief visits. Her daughter described the ordeal as heartbreaking, noting her father is devastated. A GoFundMe account to cover attorney fees and other expenses raised over $22,000 within days.
Legal and Administrative Response
ICE and the Department of Homeland Security have provided no official explanation for Kaur’s arrest. No public reason has been given for detaining an immigrant with an approved petition and no criminal history. Kaur’s family has retained immigration attorneys and is pursuing legal avenues, including petitioning for release on bond. Recent U.S. court decisions striking down ICE’s blanket policy of denying bond to most detainees may aid her case.
Legal experts have criticized ICE’s tactics as harsh, with some describing detention conditions as “crowded, inhumane, and degrading,” to the point that detainees sometimes abandon legal proceedings. Advocates note that current enforcement strategies appear focused on rapid deportations and sweeping arrests.
Enforcement Trends in 2025
Kaur’s arrest coincides with a nationwide surge in immigration enforcement in 2025. ICE reports indicate approximately 66,000 people were in custody by late 2025, around 70% more than earlier in the year. Analysis shows ICE averaged roughly 727 arrests per day, more than double the pace under the previous administration. Congress allocated substantial funding for enforcement and hired thousands of additional agents, reflecting an “all-points” push.
The majority of detainees had no serious criminal record, with only a small percentage having violent convictions. In California, monthly ICE arrests rose from around 550 in late 2024 to over 1,500 by spring 2025, with about 60% of detainees having no criminal history. Advocates emphasize that this enforcement campaign has extended far beyond border arrests, targeting long-term residents and visa overstays in interior cities. Many Indian-origin families and other immigrant communities live in fear, despite maintaining law-abiding records and contributing significantly to society.
Conclusion
Bubbly Kaur’s detention has become a focal point in U.S. immigration news, highlighting the challenges faced by long-term immigrants navigating the green card process in 2025. Her case underscores the human impact of current policies on immigrants from India and other countries. As of now, she remains in ICE custody awaiting further proceedings, while her family continues to fight for her release, hoping that legal challenges and public support will reunite her with her loved ones in the United States.
