Palestinian Woman Released from U.S. Detention After Year-Long Custody
In a moment of relief and celebration, a Palestinian woman was released from U.S. immigration detention on Monday, marking the end of a year-long ordeal that began with her involvement in a protest against Israeli military actions. Leqaa Kordia, a resident of New Jersey originally from the West Bank, was the last individual detained following the Trump administration’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses.
Kordia, aged 33, had been held at the Prairieland Detention Center in Texas since March of the previous year. Her detention stemmed from her participation in a protest outside Columbia University in 2024. “I don’t know what to say. I’m free! I’m free! Finally, after one year,” she expressed joyfully to the media after her release.
Despite being ordered released on bond by an immigration judge three times, government challenges delayed her freedom. However, Kordia was finally released on a $100,000 bond when the government did not contest the latest ruling.
After her release, Kordia expressed her excitement to reunite with her mother and also pledged to advocate for others still detained. “There is a lot of injustice in this place,” she stated. “There is a lot of people that shouldn’t be here the first place.”
Kordia was among numerous individuals arrested during the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement against noncitizens critical of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. This crackdown affected many students and scholars across U.S. universities, including Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student, and Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University student.
Khalil was detained for three months in Louisiana, while Öztürk faced six weeks of detention. Meanwhile, other activists chose to flee the U.S. under pressure, such as a Columbia doctoral student who left after her visa was revoked.
Kordia’s arrest followed her joining a protest outside Columbia University, prompted by the death of her relatives in Gaza. Although the charges from her arrest were dismissed, the information was shared with federal authorities, citing a money laundering investigation.
Federal accusations against Kordia included visa overstay and scrutinizing financial support sent to her family in the Middle East. Kordia maintained that the funds were to aid her family members amidst the ongoing conflict.
Tricia McLaughlin, spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, previously criticized Kordia for “providing financial support to individuals living in nations hostile to the U.S.” The department reiterated its stance on her illegal status and their commitment to enforcing immigration law.
However, Judge Tara Naslow found “overwhelming evidence” supporting Kordia’s claims about her financial transactions. Naslow noted, “I’ve heard testimony. I’ve seen thousands of pages of evidence presented by the respondent, and very little evidence presented by the government in any of this.”
Kordia’s release follows a recent hospitalization due to a seizure linked to a neurological condition exacerbated by her detention. Her legal team emphasized her health concerns and low flight risk during a recent hearing.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed his gratitude for Kordia’s release on social media, acknowledging her detention for advocating Palestinian rights. The mayor had previously discussed her case with President Donald Trump.
For further details, read more about the response from college students here and about Mahmoud Khalil’s case here.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
