Detention of Leqaa Kordia

Detention of Leqaa Kordia
Part of the activist deportations in the second Trump presidency
DateMarch 13, 2025
LocationNewark, New Jersey, U.S.
CausePro-Palestinian activism at Columbia University
ParticipantsU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
ArrestsLeqaa Kordia

Leqaa Kordia is a Palestinian woman from East Jerusalem who was detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on March 13, 2025, at an immigration office in Newark, New Jersey.[1] The government cited her overstaying an F-1 student visa, which had expired on January 26, 2022, after she left her academic program.[1][2] Kordia had previously been arrested at Columbia University during a pro-Palestinian demonstration, though those charges were later dropped.[2]

Following her detention, Kordia was transferred to the Prairieland ICE Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas.[3] Government attorneys alleged she had provided material support to Hamas based on money transfers to family members in Gaza. An immigration judge rejected that claim in April 2025, finding no evidence of any connection to a terrorist organization.[4] Despite two court orders for her release on bond, Kordia remained in ICE custody while the government appealed the orders while pursuing removal proceedings.[5][6] Her continued detention was enabled by the government filing automatic stays, which allow the government to keep a person detained during an appeal.[6]

Kordia's case drew increasing public attention throughout 2025, with politicians, human rights organizations, and legal advocates calling for her release.[7][1] By January 2026, she had become the last Columbia protester remaining in immigration detention.[8][1] On March 16, 2026, she was released from detention after the government did not appeal a third court order for her release.[6]

Biography

Leqaa Kordia was born in East Jerusalem.[8] Her parents separated when she was young. Her mother lived in Gaza for a few years, and Kordia would travel back and forth from the strip to her father in Ramallah. Eventually, Kordia's mother moved to the United States and remarried, becoming a U.S. citizen. Kordia and her brother remained with her father in the West Bank.[1]

Kordia came to the U.S. in 2016 on a visitor visa and subsequently enrolled in English-language programs, first at Uceda Paterson and later at Bergen County Career Advancement Training, on an F-1 student visa.[1][2] In 2022, after her mother filed a family-based petition for Kordia to start the process of obtaining permanent residency, she dropped out of school.[1][2] She then cared for her mother and autistic half-brother in Paterson, New Jersey, working as a waitress. Since October 7, 2023, Kordia has lost over 200 relatives in the Gaza war and genocide, according to her attorney.[4]Kordia attended several protests in support of Palestine. On April 30, 2024, she was arrested alongside 100 other protesters at Columbia University, but the charges were later dropped.[2]

Arrest by ICE agents and detention

Kordia arrived at the ICE field office in Newark, New Jersey for what she believed was a simple interview on March 13, 2025[10][11][12]. At the immigration hearing, she was detained and placed in an unmarked van, ultimately arriving at the Prairieland Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas.[13][14] While detained at the center, she wrote an Op-ed for USA Today entitled "10 months later, I'm the last Columbia protester still in ICE custody" on January 21, 2026.[8]

Government attorneys alleged that Kordia was a Hamas supporter based on her transfer of money to support family members in the Middle East, in Gaza and elsewhere, since 2017. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) subpoenaed Kordia's records from Western Union and MoneyGram, which showed she had transferred funds to relatives in Gaza.[4]

On February 6, 2026, Kordia was hospitalized at Texas Health Huguley Hospital in Burleson, Texas following a seizure.[15] She was discharged back into ICE custody on February 9, 2026.[16] According to her attorney, Sarah Sherman-Stokes, ICE did not inform Kordia's family of the location where she received medical treatment, citing "a safety issue."[5] In a statement to the Guardian, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security dismissed Kordia’s claims about medical neglect.[17] Kordia wrote that, during her hospitalization, she was chained to a bed for 72 hours.[18]

Kordia vs. Noem
CourtUnited States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
Docket nos.3:25-cv-01072
Court membership
Judges sittingSam A. Lindsay, Rebecca Rutherford

On April 16, 2025, immigration judge Tara Naselow-Nahas filed a court order for Kordia's release on a $20,000 bond, stating "There is no evidence in the record that this person supports Hamas or is a member of a terrorist organization. In the absence of evidence of any connection to terrorist organizations, the Court cannot find that Respondent is supporting a terrorist organization by sending money to a family member in Palestine."[19] Despite this order, Kordia remained in ICE custody after the Trump administration ordered an automatic stay.[20] According to Kordia, "ICE appealed the same day, saying that I'm dangerous, I went for a protest and all that."[21]

On April 30, 2025, Kordia's legal team filed a habeas corpus petition against DHS secretary Kristi Noem, US Attorney General Pam Bondi, and acting ICE director Todd Lyons. They described her detention as a violation of her civil liberties, and detailed the allegations of violations to Kordia's religious freedom while in custody. Her representatives from the Texas Civil Rights Project alleged her detention was a constitutional violation of the first amendment and fifth amendment for free speech and due process.[22][23][24]

In March 2025, the New York Police Department (NYPD) provided federal immigration agencies with legal information regarding Kordia. The four page report, provided to Homeland Security Investigations, included a summary of Kordia's April 2024 arrest as well as her date of birth and home address. On May 6, 2025, NYPD launched a probe into whether the department had violated policy by sharing Kordia's records with the federal agency.[25]

On November 3, 2025, the Department of Justice ordered Kordia removed, but granted withholding of removal. Kordia remains in detention pending the government's attempts to remove her to a third country.[26]

In March 2026, her attorney filed a petition for her release citing health concerns.[27] On the one-year anniversary of her detention, Texas judge Tara Naselow-Nahas ordered her release on bond, which she set at $100,000.[28] This marked the third time that a judge ordered Kordia's release.[29] She was released on March 16 after the government did not appeal the third order to release Kordia.[6]

Reactions

Initially, Kordia's case attracted little public attention despite her continued detention while other Gaza protesters arrested alongside her were released.[30][31][32] Her profile rose in late 2025 when The New Yorker profiled her as "The Last Columbia Protester in ICE Detention."[1]

Individuals and organizations

Kordia's detention was criticized by groups such as the Center for Constitutional Rights,[33] Defending Rights & Dissent,[33] Fight for the Future,[33] National Lawyers Guild,[33] and Project South.[33] Amnesty International USA launched a campaign calling for her release in October 2025.[7] Her arrest and detention was also criticized by Mahmoud Khalil.[34] New York City First Lady Rama Duwaji created and shared original artwork supporting Kordia's release from detention.[35]

During Kordia's detention, demonstrations demanding her release were held in Dallas, Texas[27] and at Columbia University.[36] Activists at Columbia University also held a hunger strike in March 2026 in soldarity with Kordia.[37]

Ethnic and religion-based organizations

Arab and Muslim Americans

The Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee[33] and Council on American–Islamic Relations[38] criticized Kordia's arrest.

Jewish Americans

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency identified the protests that Kordia participated in as "anti-Israel protests that drew allegations of antisemitism."[39] Jewish groups that expressed disapproval of Kordia's detention included Bend the Arc,[33] IfNotNow,[40] and Jewish Voice For Peace.[41]

Elected officials

U.S. Senators Cory Booker, Andy Kim and Chris Van Hollen along with congresspeople Rashida Tlaib and Nellie Pou, were among the politicians who publicly called for her release.[42][17] In January 2026, ICE denied Texas State Representative Salman Bhojani a scheduled visit with Kordia.[43] In February 2026, New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani presented her case directly to President Donald Trump and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, handing over a list of Kordia and three other detained activists and requesting that their cases be dismissed.[44] While Columbia student Ellie Aghayeva was released following that meeting, Kordia remained in ICE custody.[45]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Alami, Aida (October 17, 2025). "The Last Columbia Protester in ICE Detention". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e Judy, Sam (October 27, 2025). "After 220 Days, Leqaa Kordia Is the Last Columbia Protester in ICE Detention. She's Still Fighting for Freedom". The Barbed Wire. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  3. ^ Closson, Troy (March 14, 2025). "U.S. Arrests 2nd Person Tied to Pro-Palestinian Protests at Columbia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Musgrave, Shawn (October 2, 2025). "She Sent Money to Family in Gaza. ICE Claimed It's Evidence She Supports Hamas". The Intercept. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Gilles, Nellie (November 3, 2025). "Radio Diaries: Columbia protester Leqaa Kordia is still detained". NPR. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d Cramer, Maria (March 16, 2026). "ICE Releases Columbia Protester Who Was Held for One Year". New York Times. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  7. ^ a b "USA: Release detained protester". Amnesty International. October 8, 2025. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c Kordia, Leqaa. "10 months later, I'm the last Columbia protester still in ICE custody". USA TODAY. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  9. ^ Braimah, Tawa (February 26, 2026). "USA: Health concerns for detained protestor". Amnesty International Canada. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  10. ^ Fife, Travis (June 3, 2025). "🚨 Fighting for justice for Palestinian Leqaa Kordia – Unjustly Arrested and Detained for Speaking Out 🚨". TCRP. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  11. ^ Prater, Nia (March 14, 2025). "Feds Arrest Second Gaza Protester From Columbia". Intelligencer. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  12. ^ "US arrests second pro-Palestinian Columbia University protester". BBC News. March 15, 2025. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  13. ^ Closson, Troy (March 14, 2025). "U.S. Arrests 2nd Person Tied to Pro-Palestinian Protests at Columbia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  14. ^ Rice, Priscilla (March 18, 2025). "Palestinian student protestor arrested by ICE in New Jersey, detained in North Texas". KERA News. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  15. ^ Stepansky, Joseph. "US family demands pro-Palestine protester's release after hospitalisation". Al Jazeera. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  16. ^ Singh, Kanishka (February 9, 2026). "Palestinian woman hospitalized after seizure in US ICE detention". Reuters. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  17. ^ a b Speri, Alice (February 13, 2026). "Calls mount for release of Palestinian protester held by ICE for nearly a year". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  18. ^ Kordia, Leqaa. "EXCLUSIVE: I'm the Palestinian Who Has Been in ICE Detention for Almost a Year". zeteo.com. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  19. ^ Guzman, Georgina (May 5, 2025). "Petitioner-Plaintiff, Leqaa Kordia's Motion for Release Pending Final Judgment and Preliminary Injunction" (PDF).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ Abushaban, Hamzah (March 13, 2026). "One year later, ICE is still ignoring court orders to release my cousin". The Hill. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  21. ^ Gilles, Nellie (November 3, 2025). "Radio Diaries: Columbia protester Leqaa Kordia is still detained". NPR. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  22. ^ Osibamowo, Toluwani (June 5, 2025). "Lawyers for Palestinian protester being detained by ICE outside Dallas argue for her release". KERA News. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  23. ^ Rice, Priscilla (May 2, 2025). "Attorneys for Palestinian student protestor held in North Texas file challenge in court". KERA News. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  24. ^ Nguyen, Alex; Rodriguez-Mora, Bianca (June 5, 2025). "Palestinian woman's attorney argues for her release from North Texas immigration detention". Dallas News. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  25. ^ "NYPD launches probe into why it gave a record of a Palestinian woman's sealed arrest to ICE". AP News. May 6, 2025. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  26. ^ Leqaa Kordia v. Kristi Noem (United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division (November 18, 2025)), Text.
  27. ^ a b Rice, Priscilla (March 6, 2026). "Supporters hopeful Columbia protestor's Texas ICE detention will end as health problems persist". KERA News. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  28. ^ Garcia, Armando. "Palestinian woman ordered released from ICE detention for 3rd time but may remain detained". ABC News. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  29. ^ "For third time, judge orders release of Palestinian woman whose detention at North Texas ICE facility gained national headlines". wfaa.com. March 13, 2026. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  30. ^ O'Donnell, Paul (May 28, 2025). "Leqaa Kordia: The forgotten prisoner". RNS. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  31. ^ Adely, Hannan. "NJ's Leqaa Kordia still detained, despite court orders freeing Gaza protesters". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  32. ^ "The only protester still locked up after Trump's campus crackdown breaks silence: 'I feel helpless'". AP News. October 3, 2025. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g Fuller, Nathan (March 11, 2026). "21 Civil Society Groups to DHS: Release Detained Protester Leqaa Kordia". Defending Rights & Dissent. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  34. ^ "To my Palestinian sister in ICE detention – I will carry you until you are free". The Guardian. March 9, 2026. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  35. ^ "Leqaa Kordia: NYC's First Lady Rama Duwaji shares artwork in support of detained activist; watch". Hindustan Times. March 4, 2026. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  36. ^ Pillai, Daksha. "Dozens demand protections for international student workers at Sundial protest amid stalled union negotiations". Columbia Daily Spectator. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  37. ^ Manhattan, Louis Finley. "Columbia community holds rally for protester still detained". ny1.com. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  38. ^ "CAIR-NJ Joins Pax Christi to Call for the Immediate Release of Leqaa Kordia, and Recognize the Beginning of Ramadan and Lent". February 19, 2026. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  39. ^ Gilson, Grace (February 11, 2026). "Mamdani calls for release of Leqaa Kordia, the last Palestinian Columbia protester still detained by ICE". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  40. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  41. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  42. ^ "Free Leqaa Kordia: Palestinian Woman Who Joined Columbia U. Protest Has Been Detained Since March". Democracy Now!. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  43. ^ Torres, Aarón (January 30, 2026). "ICE denies North Texas Democratic lawmaker a visit with detained Palestinian woman". Dallas News. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  44. ^ Sottile, Zoe (March 3, 2026). "Mamdani says he's asked Trump to drop immigration cases against these pro-Palestinian activists". CNN. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  45. ^ Otterman, Sharon (February 26, 2026). "Columbia Student Is Released From ICE After Mamdani-Trump Meeting". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
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