Salah Sarsour, president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, the largest mosque in Wisconsin, has been released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention following a federal judge's order.
U.S. District Court Judge James Patrick Hanlon ordered Sarsour's release on Thursday, citing a "substantial" First Amendment retaliation claim that could render his detention unlawful. Judge Hanlon was appointed by former President Donald Trump.
Sarsour, a 53-year-old legal permanent resident who has lived in the U.S. for over 30 years, grew up in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The Islamic Society of Milwaukee had stated that Sarsour was being targeted due to his Palestinian and Muslim background and his advocacy for Palestinian rights. Upon his release, Sarsour expressed relief and stated, "I will never stop speaking for Palestine and humanity, wherever I am."
Sarsour's legal team reported that he has type 2 diabetes and lost over 30 pounds while in detention. He has no criminal record in the U.S., though he was convicted as a teenager in an Israeli military court before immigrating. An Israeli rights group, B'Tselem, noted that Palestinian defendants in West Bank military courts face a 96% conviction rate and that confessions are often extracted through torture.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE's parent agency, stated that Sarsour was convicted of throwing Molotov cocktails at Israeli armed forces. DHS further commented, "There is no First Amendment right to fund terror organizations and lie on immigration forms." Sarsour has denied any support for extremists.
The judge mandated that Sarsour remain in Wisconsin as his case proceeds. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, among other advocacy groups, welcomed the ruling. The Trump administration's efforts to deport foreign protesters, threaten university funding for protests, and screen immigrants' online comments related to pro-Palestinian sentiments have encountered judicial challenges. Critics argue that the administration conflates criticism of Israeli actions in Gaza and advocacy for Palestinian rights with antisemitism and support for extremism.
