Palestinian protester Leqaa Kordia released after year in ICE custody

Leqaa Kordia, a 33-year-old Palestinian woman from the West Bank who has lived in New Jersey since 2016, was released from immigration detention after being held for over a year.

“Leqaa Kordia was the last protester in immigration detention after Trump's campus crackdown NEW YORK -- A Palestinian woman who was the last person still in immigration detention after the Trump administration's 2025 crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists was released Monday after a year in custody, according to her lawyers”

ABC7 New York

Kordia was the last person remaining in immigration custody from the Trump administration's 2025 crackdown on campus protests against Israel's military actions in Gaza.

ABC7 New York

She had been detained at a privately run immigration detention center in Texas since March 2025, after being arrested during a routine check-in with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New Jersey.

Despite immigration judges ordering her release on bond three times, the government challenged the first two rulings before finally allowing her freedom on $100,000 bond after failing to challenge the third decision.

Kordia's arrest stemmed from her participation in a protest outside Columbia University in 2024, where she was among roughly 100 people detained by city police.

The charges against her were dismissed and sealed, but her arrest information was later provided to the Trump administration by the New York City Police Department.

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The NYPD claimed the records were needed for a money laundering investigation, though this claim has been questioned.

Federal officials accused Kordia of overstaying her visa while scrutinizing financial transfers she sent to relatives in the Middle East.

She claimed the money was intended to help family members suffering during the war in Gaza.

The Department of Homeland Security criticized her for 'providing financial support to individuals living in nations hostile to the U.S.'

An immigration judge later found 'overwhelming evidence' that Kordia was truthful about her financial assistance.

Kordia's motivation for protesting was deeply personal, as she had lost scores of relatives in Israeli military actions in Gaza.

“NEW YORK (AP) — The last pro-Palestinian protester in immigration detention after Trump’s campus crackdown has been released”

fox21online

She maintains strong family ties to Gaza and explained that joining the 2024 demonstration was her way of helping her family.

Kordia stated, 'My way of helping my family and my people was to go to the streets.'

This personal connection to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza highlights the intersection of immigration enforcement and political activism.

Her case demonstrates how U.S. immigration policies are being used to target non-citizens who engage in political speech related to Israeli government actions.

During her year-long detention, Kordia suffered serious health complications that raised concerns about the conditions.

She was hospitalized for three days after experiencing a seizure following an incident where she fainted and hit her head.

NBC New York

Her attorneys reported that her neurological condition had worsened while in custody, placing her at elevated risk for additional seizures.

The detention conditions drew criticism from advocates and highlighted concerns about healthcare access for immigration detainees.

Kordia spoke about the injustice she witnessed inside the facility, noting 'There is a lot of injustice in this place.'

Her health deterioration became a key factor in the immigration judge's final decision to grant her release.

After being freed on $100,000 bond, Kordia expressed overwhelming relief and gratitude to her supporters and family.

“A Palestinian woman who was the last person still in immigration detention after the Trump administration's 2025 crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists was released Monday on $100,000 bond after a year in custody”

NBC New York

With a beaming smile, she told reporters, 'I'm free! Finally, after one year,'

The Killeen Daily Herald

She expressed her eagerness to reunite with her mother, saying she was looking forward to going home and hugging her 'so hard.'

Kordia's cousin, Hamzah Abushaban, released a statement expressing the family's relief.

He said, 'We are overwhelmed with relief and gratitude at the release of our beloved Leqaa Kordia.'

He noted that 'This past year has taken an unimaginable toll on Leqaa and our entire family.'

Despite her personal freedom, Kordia vowed to continue advocating for others still detained.

Kordia's case represents part of a broader pattern of the Trump administration's crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism.

Several other individuals faced similar consequences for their political speech related to Israel's actions.

Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student, spent three months in immigration detention in Louisiana.

Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University student, was detained for six weeks after co-authoring an op-ed criticizing her university's response to Israel.

At least one Columbia doctoral student fled the U.S. after her visa was revoked and immigration agents appeared at her university apartment.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani had personally advocated for Kordia's release during a meeting with President Trump.

He condemned the administration's actions, stating he was grateful that Kordia was released 'after more than a year in detention for speaking up for Palestinian rights.'

The cases illustrate how immigration enforcement is being weaponized against political dissent, particularly concerning Palestinian rights advocacy.