TEXAS — A federal judge last week ordered the release of Meenu Batra, a court translator who had been held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody for 45 days, ruling that she had been detained for "no discernible reason." Batra, 53, was arrested on March 17 at a Texas airport while traveling to Milwaukee for work and was held at the El Valle Detention Facility in Raymondville, Texas.

Batra, who was born in India, has been living and working legally in the United States for decades. She said she fled to the U.S. as a teenager after her parents, who were members of India's Sikh community, were killed during an outbreak of violence against followers of the religion. She applied for asylum and was ultimately granted withholding of removal status, a designation that did not allow her to apply for U.S. citizenship.

"They told me you're here illegally," she said of her arrest. "I believe in the system. I believe I have the documents," she added.

The Department of Homeland Security disputed her account. "On March 17, ICE arrested Meenu Batra, an illegal alien from India, during a targeted enforcement operation," DHS said in a statement. The agency also said, "An activist judge appointed by Barack Obama RELEASED her from ICE custody on April 30," and added, "We will continue to fight for the removal of illegal aliens who have no right to be in our country."

Batra, a single mother of four, said the statement was very disrespectful to the judges and judiciary. She said the majority of women she met in detention were not violent criminals, and that leaving other detainees behind made her feel guilty.

"They forget that aliens are humans and humans have rights," she said. She said her children are relieved she is home, but the experience has left them shaken. "My daughter doesn't sleep at night time. She keeps watch on me. Anytime a car passes by, she becomes fearful that somebody is here to… get you," she said. "No one is safe," she added.

Batra's son Jasper joined the Army a few months ago. Parents of U.S. service members are eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship. Her habeas petition against the U.S. government is still pending.