73-Year-Old Bay Area Grandma Detained by ICE, Moved to Bakersfield

(BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA) Harjit Kaur, a 73-year-old grandmother from El Sobrante in the Bay Area, was taken into ICE detention after a scheduled check-in last week at the San Francisco field office and transferred to Bakersfield, according to recent local reporting. Community advocates say Kaur had followed all required appointments and was in full compliance. ICE has not released specific reasons for the detention, citing privacy rules and an ongoing review. The case remains active as of September 13, 2025, with her legal team seeking her release on humanitarian grounds.

Kaur’s family and neighbors describe her as a longtime community member who has lived quietly for years in the Bay Area. Her detention has sparked outrage because of her age and possible health concerns, and because she was detained after doing what the system told her to do: show up for a routine immigration appointment.

The transfer to Bakersfield places her several hours from home by car, making visits hard for older relatives and caregivers.

Community response and advocacy

Advocacy groups in the Bay Area mobilized quickly, organizing petition drives and public rallies calling for immediate release. Local legal aid organizations say they have reached out to ICE and the Department of Homeland Security for answers.

Members of Congress and county supervisors have asked federal officials to review the case and consider humanitarian parole. Supporters argue that keeping a 73-year-old in ICE detention conflicts with federal guidance that urges alternatives to detention for elderly people and those with medical risks, unless there are clear public safety concerns.

ICE, in brief statements to reporters, has said it cannot share case details without consent but that officers review each person’s circumstances individually. The agency also notes that enforcement decisions involve multiple factors, including past immigration history and any security checks.

“Keeping elderly or medically vulnerable people in detention when alternatives exist raises serious humanitarian and policy questions.”
— Community advocates and legal aid groups

Rapid detention raises policy questions

Over the past two years, the Biden administration has promoted the use of prosecutorial discretion for people who are elderly, medically vulnerable, or have deep ties to their communities. The Department of Homeland Security has directed field offices to consider alternatives to detention—like check-ins, monitoring, or release on recognizance—especially for people who pose no flight risk or danger.

Advocates and immigration lawyers say cases like Kaur’s show uneven application of these policies across field offices. Some families report quick releases for grandparents with health issues, while others face sudden detention and long transfers far from home.

In Kaur’s situation, supporters highlight a troubling pattern:

1. She appeared for her scheduled appointment.
2. She was compliant with required check-ins.
3. She was placed in custody and moved to Bakersfield.

There’s no public indication of criminal history or missed appointments. That gap between written policy and what happened on the ground is why local officials are pressing ICE for an urgent review.

Community members also point to the human cost: a grandmother in her seventies may rely on regular medication, family support, and trusted doctors. Detention can interrupt that care. Transfers to facilities hours away add stress for aging spouses and adult children who juggle jobs, childcare, and long trips to visit.

In Bakersfield, advocates say, the logistical distance can mean fewer visits and delayed legal coordination.

What options exist for release and oversight

When someone is taken into custody after a check-in, ICE typically processes them at the field office and can transfer them to a detention facility pending review. Several pathways may lead to release:

• Humanitarian parole or release based on age, health, and community ties
• An ICE officer’s discretionary decision to release pending further proceedings
• A bond hearing before an immigration judge, where a judge can order release if the person is not a flight risk or danger

Kaur’s legal team is reportedly preparing a humanitarian parole request and seeking help from congressional offices. Such requests often include:

• Medical records
• Proof of residence and family ties
• Letters from community leaders
• A plan for follow-up appointments

Attorneys also ask ICE to consider DHS guidance on elderly detainees. Lawyers stress that prompt requests matter, especially when health is at stake.

Role of elected officials and constituent services

Constituent services can play a role. Congressional offices can:

• Ask ICE for a status check
• Request expedited review
• Highlight time-sensitive factors such as medication access or upcoming medical appointments

While lawmakers don’t make the final call, their inquiries can draw attention to urgent needs. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, continued gaps between policy goals and field-level decisions have pushed more families to seek congressional help earlier in the detention process.

ICE maintains that it balances humanitarian factors with its enforcement mission. Still, attorneys note that longtime residents with no criminal record and stable addresses usually present low flight risk. In practice, those are the cases where release should be the default under current priorities.

Contact information for inquiries

For those seeking to contact officials, local advocates have shared these details:

• ICE San Francisco Field Office: 630 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA 94111; Phone: (415) 844-5512
• DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties: Phone: 1-866-644-8360
• Bay Area Rapid Response Network: community support line for urgent detention issues

Individuals can also consult the official directory of ICE ERO field offices to confirm contact channels and request information about detention and release processes. When speaking with officials, families should have the detainee’s full name, A-number if available, and any medical concerns ready to share.

Ongoing concerns and broader implications

Kaur’s supporters are keeping attention on Bakersfield, where they say distance makes it harder to coordinate care and legal steps. They’re urging ICE to exercise discretion quickly, pointing to DHS guidance encouraging alternatives to detention for people in Kaur’s age group.

Lawyers warn that prolonged detention can harm older detainees’ health and may complicate later compliance if medication or follow-up care falls behind.

This case has also become a barometer for the administration’s promises on humane enforcement. Supporters say a swift, transparent review—leading to release unless there’s a clear safety concern—would show those policies working. ICE has emphasized that all cases are unique and bound by privacy limits, which is why the agency won’t comment publicly on the reasons for Kaur’s arrest and transfer.

As of now, Kaur remains in custody in Bakersfield, her attorneys pursuing all available options while community groups organize around her family. Elected officials in the Bay Area have stated they’ll continue to press ICE and DHS for answers and for her release, citing her age, compliance record, and community ties. National immigrant rights organizations are watching closely, viewing the case as a test of how consistently humanitarian priorities are applied in real life across the United States.