GOOD NEWS: An immigration judge in Texas ordered the release of Leqaa Kordia from detention on March 13, 2026, one year after she was first detained. She was released three days later. Leqaa was targeted for her participation in a protest at Columbia University, where she was exercising her rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly protesting Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza strip. Her legal proceedings continue in immigration and federal courts.
Leqaa Kordia is a 33-year-old Muslim Palestinian woman living in the United States. She has been detained by U.S. immigration authorities since March 13. Since 2023, Leqaa has actively participated in several protests in New Jersey and nearby areas, advocating against Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Leqaa has lost approximately 175 family members in Gaza since the genocide began.
At the time of her detention, Leqaa was in the process of securing legal residency. During a voluntary meeting with immigration officials at the Newark ICE Field Office, where she was accompanied by her attorney, Leqaa was immediately detained, despite being found to present a low risk to public safety, flight or criminal history. She was transferred to the Prairieland Detention Facility in Texas. This facility is located far from her attorney and family, and it has a documented history of human rights violations.
Call on Secretary Noem to release Leqaa Kordia immediately to her family.
UPDATE: Leqaa Kordia has been held in ICE detention for 337 days. On February 7, Leqaa collapsed, suffered a head injury, and experienced a seizure. She was hospitalized for three days, during which ICE provided no information to her family or attorneys about her condition or whereabouts. She was returned to detention on February 9.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: April 7, 2026
Dear Secretary Noem,
On March 13, 2025, Leqaa Kordia, a 33-year-old Muslim Palestinian woman, voluntarily met with Department of Homeland Security agents after she learned she was being investigated by immigration authorities. She was immediately detained and transferred from New Jersey to Prairieland Detention Facility in Texas, far from her family.
Ms. Kordia was in the process of obtaining legal permanent residency in the USA. She came to the attention of immigration authorities after her arrest at a protest in 2024 outside of Columbia University against Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip. The charges were later dismissed in the interests of justice.
Ms. Kordia’s arrest and ongoing arbitrary detention are a part of the continued attacks on human rights by the Trump administration. Targeting peaceful protesters and threatening their immigration status for the content of their protest, such as advocating for the human rights of Palestinians, is a violation of the rights to freedom of expression and assembly. This targeting sends a chilling message to people across the country that anyone exercising their human rights will be subject to repression, detention, and possible deportation. For immigrant communities already living in fear throughout the U.S., they are now only further pushed into the shadows with fear that they could be deported for speaking out.
Leqaa Kordia has suffered violations of her rights to practice her religion while detained in Texas. She poses no threat to the public or flight risk and is a caregiver for family members in New Jersey. She should be released immediately to her family.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
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