In a shocking incident that has sparked outrage, a 60-year-old Indian-origin woman and beloved restaurateur was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while attending what was supposed to be a routine administrative step for her green card.
A Routine Appointment Turns Into a Nightmare
Babblejit "Bubbly" Kaur, a long-time resident of Long Beach, California, was taken into custody on December 1, 2025. The detention occurred at a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) facility where Kaur had gone for a biometrics appointment. Her family believed this was the final step in her adjustment of status to become a permanent resident.
According to her daughter, Joti Kaur, the family's ordeal began when Babblejit entered the interview room. She was informed she was under arrest and was permitted only a brief call to her lawyer before being led away. "She was really scared," Joti recounted, describing how her mother was placed in a van with other detainees, her hands and feet shackled.
A Pillar of the Community with Deep Roots
Kaur has lived in the United States since 1994 and has no criminal record. She and her husband were former co-owners of the popular Natraj Cuisine of India and Nepal restaurant in Belmont Shore, which they ran for over two decades before it closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Friends and fellow business owners describe her as a generous and deeply rooted member of the Long Beach community.
Her immigration petition had already been approved, sponsored by her US citizen daughter and son-in-law. The family, originally from India, settled in California in the mid-1990s. They have three children, two of whom are US citizens, while Joti holds status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Uncertainty and a Call for Oversight
For several hours after the detention, the family was left in the dark about Kaur's whereabouts, receiving only vague information from officials. They eventually traced her using the ICE detainee locator system, finding she had been taken to Los Angeles before being transferred to the remote Adelanto ICE Processing Center near Victorville in California's High Desert.
"It's been a nightmare," said Joti Kaur, noting that while they can now speak by phone and visit, the emotional toll has been heavy. As of December 15, Babblejit Kaur remains detained at Adelanto.
No official reason for the detention has been provided by ICE or the Department of Homeland Security, despite media inquiries. Immigration experts suggest it may be linked to past immigration status issues, a pattern they are seeing more frequently. Local Congressman Robert Garcia has called the situation "horrific" and is advocating for greater oversight of immigration enforcement practices.
This case highlights a reported increase in ICE detentions at USCIS offices across the US, even during interviews and appointments for individuals with approved petitions and clean records.
