The Stream

Indian asylum seekers protest nearly year-long US detention

Hunger strike sheds light on immigrants detained at immigration processing centre.

Thirty-seven Indian immigrants ended a hunger strike protesting their detainment at a US facility last week, but some are questioning what this means as their detention continues. 

According to reports, at least 37 men of Punjabi descent have been detained at an immigration processing centre in El Paso, Texas, since July 2013. Many of the men are politically active with India’s Sikh community and came to the United States seeking asylum. They are reportedly still awaiting a court date to decide if their requests will be granted.

Complaints over the living conditions have many activists still calling for their release.