ICE Detains Palestinian Activist Leqaa Kordia for a Year, Rights Groups Demand Release
Key Takeaways
- Immigration judge ordered Leqaa Kordia released for the third time on March 13, 2026.
- Detention by ICE has lasted about one year.
- Rights groups call for release; vigils held near Columbia University.
One-Year Detention
Leqaa Kordia, a 33-year-old Muslim Palestinian woman born in East Jerusalem, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for one year as of Friday.
“This Friday marks one year since the U”
Kordia first came to the attention of authorities after being arrested during a Gaza solidarity demonstration held at Columbia University in 2024.
Those charges were later dismissed in the interests of justice.
She was subsequently detained during what was supposed to be a routine immigration hearing in New Jersey.
She was immediately taken into custody and transferred to Prairieland Detention Facility in Texas, far from her family and legal representation.
Kordia was in the process of obtaining legal permanent residency in the United States when her voluntary meeting with Department of Homeland Security agents led to her detention.
Her case has drawn international attention, particularly as it coincides with the one-year anniversary of fellow Columbia protester Mahmoud Khalil's arrest.
Khalil was released from a Louisiana immigration detention facility in June 2025.
Solidarity Protests
Campus activism surrounding Kordia's detention has intensified, with Barnard and Columbia students and faculty launching a relay hunger strike on March 9th.
The strike reached its 95th hour at the time of publishing.
The strike was organized by faculty members who were already conducting weekly vigils for detained community members, including Kordia.
According to Shayoni Mitra, a Barnard faculty member helping organize the strike, the fasting represents both solidarity with Kordia during Ramadan and an embodied form of protest.
Around 25 people have participated in the strike thus far.
Protesters maintain a constant presence at 116th and Broadway while tabling and raising awareness about Kordia's case 24 hours a day.
The protest site has become a focal point for community engagement.
Photos of Kordia—including one taken less than 30 feet from the hunger strike location showing her holding a Palestinian flag at Columbia's front gates—are displayed prominently.
Community members from diverse backgrounds have stopped to write letters of support.
One resident told his 12-year-old daughter to "tell her we're praying for her, to stay strong, and she's got this."
Legal Obstruction
The legal battle over Kordia's detention has revealed a pattern of obstruction by immigration authorities.
Two separate judges have ruled that Kordia should be freed from custody.
ICE officials have repeatedly requested "discretionary stays" from the Board of Immigration Appeals to keep her confined while appeals are finalized.
This legal maneuvering has extended her detention beyond the initial charges that were already dismissed in the interests of justice.
Kordia's case has drawn condemnation from Amnesty International USA, which has taken a leading role in advocating for her release.
Justin Mazzola, Deputy Director of Research at Amnesty International, stated that "Leqaa should never have been detained in the first place, let alone for an entire year."
Mazzola criticized the Trump administration for "sending a chilling message to us all: opposition and dissent will not be tolerated."
The organization's involvement has helped elevate Kordia's case to national prominence.
Family Response
Family members of Kordia have expressed profound anguish and outrage at her prolonged detention.
Her cousin, Hamzah Abushaban, described the one-year incarceration as "unthinkable."
Abushaban condemned what he called the Trump administration's cruel use of family mourning to justify prolonged detention.
"It is unthinkable that the Trump administration would use this mourning of lost family to justify detaining Leqaa, stripping her rights away, and taking her from our family for an entire year," Abushaban stated.
He emphasized that "Congress must step up and demand ICE stop playing cruel games with Leqaa's life."
He characterized the detention as "unjust, unlawful, and politically motivated," calling on lawmakers to "advocate for our rights and demand accountability when those rights are violated."
Despite her circumstances, Kordia has maintained her resilience and agency.
Abushaban noted that "While in custody, Leqaa continues to assert her resilience, agency, and right to life."
Kordia's Voice
She has maintained her political consciousness and solidarity with broader struggles for justice.
In a public statement following a recent bond hearing on the one-year anniversary of her detention, Kordia expressed profound gratitude for her supporters.
She reaffirmed her commitment to advocacy despite her imprisonment.
"I'm deeply grateful for all the people who attended today's bond hearing on the one year mark of my detention," she stated.
"I'm very, very proud of my community, family, and friends who have been speaking out for my freedom since day one," she emphasized.
Kordia said the presence of supporters made her "feel loved and supported, and it made me confident that freedom is near."
Despite her imprisonment, she has not abandoned her political commitments.
She declared that "All I want is for the government to finally release me now so I can go home to my family."
She added that "Until then, I'll continue speaking up for the basic rights and freedom of all people, from Texas to Palestine."
More on USA
FCC chair Brendan Carr Threatens Broadcasters' Licenses Over Iran War Coverage
18 sources compared
Cuba's Díaz-Canel Acknowledges Talks with U.S. as Energy Crisis Worsens
25 sources compared
Ric Grenell Steps Down as Kennedy Center President; Trump Names Replacement Matt Floca
10 sources compared
United States launches large-scale strike on Iran's Kharg Island, CENTCOM confirms.
14 sources compared