Texas mother of 4 released from ICE custody after more than a month in detention
Meenu Batra, a Texas-based court interpreter and mother of four U.S. citizen children, was released from ICE custody after more than a month of detention following her arrest at a Texas airport in March. A federal judge ordered her release, citing violations of her due process rights due to the lack of prior notice or formal procedure before her arrest. Batra, who has lived in the U.S. for about 35 years under 'withholding of removal' status, remains in the process of seeking a green card through her son in the U.S. Army.
- ▪Meenu Batra was arrested on March 17, 2026, at Valley International Airport in Harlingen, Texas, while traveling for work.
- ▪A federal district judge ordered Batra's immediate release, ruling that her due process rights were violated during her arrest.
- ▪Batra has lived in the U.S. for approximately 35 years after fleeing India following the religiously motivated killing of her parents.
- ▪She holds 'withholding of removal' status, which allows her to stay and work in the U.S. but does not grant legal permanent residency.
- ▪Her legal team is pursuing a green card through her son Jasper, who is serving in the U.S. Army, and seeking to prevent any future deportation attempts.
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U.S. Texas mother of 4 released from ICE custody after more than a month in detention By Shanelle Kaul, Kierra Frazier Kierra Frazier News Editor Kierra Frazier is a news editor for CBS News & Stations. Read Full Bio Kierra Frazier April 30, 2026 / 6:30 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google A longtime Texas court interpreter and mother of four who was arrested in March by federal immigration officers, was released Thursday, her attorney confirmed to CBS News. "We are overjoyed. It's been a long six to seven weeks," Meenu Batra's attorney, Deepak Ahluwalia, told CBS News. "We knew that this moment would come. We were hoping it wouldn't take as long." Batra, whose four adult children are U.S.
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