Leqaa Kordia, a 33-year-old Palestinian woman, has been released from immigration detention after spending more than a year in custody. Kordia, who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in March 2025, had been held at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, over 1,500 miles from her home in Paterson, New Jersey.
Background and Detention
Kordia’s arrest came after she was involved in a protest at Columbia University in New York in October 2024, where she expressed opposition to military violence and supported Palestinian rights.
The protest was peaceful, and Kordia’s lawyers have strongly denied claims made by ICE that she was involved in pro-Hamas activities or that she had provided financial support to individuals in countries hostile to the U.S.
Kordia’s arrest followed a voluntary meeting with immigration officers, who issued a notice to appear in immigration court. Despite her low-risk status as assessed by ICE, she was detained and sent to Texas, where she remained until her release.
Legal Battles and Release
Kordia’s legal team filed a habeas corpus petition to secure her release, arguing that her detention was unjust, especially considering that all charges related to her arrest at Columbia were dropped “in the interest of justice.”
Immigration judges had ordered her release on three occasions, but in each case, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had stayed the release, keeping her in custody.
Finally, an immigration judge ordered her release on March 14, 2026, setting her bond. Her cousin, Hamzah Abushaban, expressed the family’s relief, stating, “We are overwhelmed with relief and gratitude at the release of our beloved Leqaa Kordia.”
The Controversy Surrounding Her Detention
The case has attracted significant attention, especially after Kordia’s statements about her political activism. Kordia said, “The only reason ICE targeted me in the first place is because I protested against the Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza.”
The White House dismissed these claims, asserting that the administration was simply enforcing federal immigration law.
However, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Amnesty International have called for Kordia’s immediate release, citing concerns about political persecution and violations of her rights.
Kordia’s case highlights the broader issue of how immigration enforcement can intersect with political activism, particularly among those who speak out on issues related to Palestinian rights and Middle Eastern geopolitics.
Kordia’s Background
Born in East Jerusalem, Kordia moved to the United States in 2016 on a tourist visa to live with her mother, an American citizen. She later transitioned to an F-1 student visa, and in 2021, her family-based petition for a green card was approved.
However, due to a misunderstanding about her immigration status, Kordia withdrew from school in 2022, and her visa status became irregular.
Increased Tensions and Detention of Activists
Kordia’s case came amid increasing tensions over the detention of activists related to Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Just days before Kordia’s arrest, another Columbia University student, Mahmoud Khalil, was detained by federal agents. His detention, like Kordia’s, sparked concerns about the targeting of activists.
Kordia’s Relief and Future
After more than a year in detention, Kordia expressed her joy at her release, saying, “I’m free! I’m free!” She had spent over 12 months behind bars, a period she described as having taken a “toll” on her and her family.
Her release is a significant victory for those advocating against the use of immigration detention as a tool for political retribution. However, her case remains a powerful example of the ongoing debate around immigration policy and political activism in the U.S.
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