An Indian-American physician has come forward with a distressing account of her elderly mother being stopped and interrogated by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at a shopping mall in Texas, solely because of her accent. Dr. Nisha Patel, who practices medicine and shares professional insights on social media, detailed the incident in a post on X, expressing outrage over what she described as harassment of a long-term US citizen.
Masked Agents Approach Elderly Shopper
According to Dr. Patel, her mother was shopping at an outlet mall in Texas when she was approached by masked ICE agents. The agents, assuming she spoke Spanish based on her accent, began addressing her in that language. When she clarified that she did not speak Spanish, they immediately shifted to demanding where she was "from," rapidly listing countries without allowing her time to respond.
A Citizen for 47 Years
Dr. Patel's mother responded by stating that she has lived in the United States for 47 years and is a US citizen. Despite this, the agents only permitted her to leave after she showed a photograph of her US passport on her phone. In her post, Dr. Patel emphasized, "She is a US citizen. She has lived in this country longer than some of them have been alive. If you think this is just about 'sending criminals back,' you are dead wrong."
Growing Criticism of ICE Practices
This incident adds to mounting criticism of ICE and federal immigration enforcement among various segments of the US population. The issue has gained prominence following recent protests across the country, sparked by the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents earlier this week, as well as the shooting of Renee Good earlier this month.
Demonstrations have erupted in cities such as Minneapolis, New York City, San Francisco, and Boston, with participants urging federal agents to leave Blue states immediately. Local leaders have reinforced this call, highlighting concerns over aggressive enforcement tactics.
Indians Among Top Detainees
The context of this incident is further underscored by statistics showing Indian nationals are among the top detainees in ICE custody. In fiscal year 2024, 2,647 Indians were detained in the US for immigration violations, including overstaying visas or entering illegally, ranking them fourth among nationalities held by ICE. By late 2025, this number had increased to over 3,258 more Indians detained.
Political Divide on Immigration Enforcement
The process of detaining individuals has often been questioned by Democratic leaders as being too aggressive. In contrast, US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have defended federal agents, claiming they are sent to curb rampant crime and alleged fraud in several states. This political divide reflects broader tensions over immigration policies in the United States.
Dr. Patel's account sheds light on the personal impact of these enforcement actions, raising questions about racial profiling and the treatment of citizens and long-term residents. As debates continue, such incidents fuel calls for reform and greater accountability in immigration practices.
