LONG BEACH, CA — A prominent member of the Southern California restaurant community, 60-year-old Babblejit “Bubbly” Kaur, was abruptly detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on December 1. The incident occurred during what was supposed to be a routine biometric scan for her pending Green Card application.
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Kaur and her family immigrated to the United States in 1994, settling first in Laguna Beach. For over 20 years, she and her husband were staples of the Long Beach culinary scene, operating Natraj Cuisine of India and Nepal. Following the pandemic, Kaur continued her work in the industry at the Royal Indian Curry House.
Despite living in the U.S. for over three decades and raising three children here, Kaur now faces the threat of deportation amidst a nationwide immigration crackdown.
The “Nightmare” Detention
The detention took place at a federal facility where Kaur had gone to provide fingerprints—the final procedural step in her residency process. Her petition for a Green Card had already been approved through the sponsorship of her daughter, Joti, and her son-in-law, both of whom are U.S. citizens.
The experience turned harrowing shortly after her arrival. According to her daughter:
- Physical Restraint: Kaur was placed in a van with her hands and feet shackled.
- Environment: She was reportedly the only woman in a vehicle full of detained men.
- Family Fear: “We have heard stories of people who just go completely missing,” Joti told the Long Beach Watchdog, expressing the family’s terror during the ordeal.
Legal and Political Context
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has remained silent regarding the specific grounds for Kaur’s detention. However, the move reflects a broader shift in enforcement priorities under the current administration, where long-term residents with deep community ties are increasingly being targeted for removal, even while in the middle of legalizing their status.
The Long Beach community has rallied behind the Kaurs, who are well-known for their hospitality and decades of local service.
