8 months ago
Indian-origin restaurateur detained by ICE
A 60-year-old Indian woman named Bubbly Kaur, who has lived in the US for over 30 years, was taken into custody by ICE during what her family thought was a routine appointment for her green card.
She has no criminal record and was sponsored for her green card by her US citizen daughter and son-in-law.
Kaur is a well-known member of the Long Beach community, having run a restaurant there for over two decades.
Her family and friends are shocked and upset by her detention, and local officials are calling for more oversight of immigration enforcement practices.
As of December 15, Kaur remains detained at a facility in California.
The US has been deporting a growing number of Indians, with over 3,258 deported in 2025 alone, the highest in 15 years.
Babblejit “Bubbly” Kaur, a 60-year-old Indian-origin woman, was detained by ICE on December 1 during a biometrics appointment for her green card application.
Kaur has lived in the US since 1994, has no criminal record, and was sponsored for her green card by her US citizen daughter and son-in-law.
She was taken into custody at a USCIS facility in Long Beach, shocking her family and the local community where she has been a well-known restaurateur for over two decades.
Kaur was transferred to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center, and her family has described the experience as a nightmare, with no official reason provided for her detention.
Local Congressman Robert Garcia has described the detention as horrific and is calling for greater oversight of immigration enforcement practices.
- Who
- Babblejit “Bubbly” Kaur, a 60-year-old Indian-origin woman and restaurateur
- What
- Detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- Where
- Long Beach, California, during a biometrics appointment at a USCIS facility
- When
- December 1, 2023
- Why
- No official reason provided, possibly linked to past immigration status issues
Key facts
- Name
- Babblejit “Bubbly” Kaur
- Age
- 60
- Detained
- December 1, 2023
- Location
- Long Beach, California
- Current Status
- Detained at Adelanto ICE Processing Center
- Family
- Three children, two US citizens, one DACA recipient
- Restaurant
- Natraj Cuisine of India and Nepal
- Years in US
- 1994 to 2023
- Deportations (2020-2024)
- 5,541 Indians
- Deportations (2025)
- 3,258 Indians (as of November 28, 2025)
Quotes
Joti Kaur
Daughter of Babblejit Kaur, living legally in the US under the DACA program
“She was really scared.”
financialexpress.com
“It’s been a nightmare.”
financialexpress.com
Congressman Robert Garcia
Congressman representing the district that includes Long Beach, California
“It’s horrific.”
financialexpress.com
