Lawyers for a Palestinian student protester detained in North Texas submit a petition in the judicial system
A Palo Altoan's Fight Against Detention:
In a head-on challenge against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Leqaa Kordia, a Palestine native from New Jersey, is putting forth a writ of habeas corpus to secure her release from the grim Prairieland Detention Center in North Texas. Her lawyers contend that her imprisonment is unfounded and an egregious act of retaliation.
Kordia, hailing from the West Bank, made headlines last year when she was among a group of students arrested during a Gaza solidarity protest at Columbia University, although her charges were eventually dropped[4]. Fast forward to March 2025, Kordia found herself under arrest in Jersey for allegedly overstaying her student visa. Subsequently, she was shipped off to the aforementioned detention center in Texas, where she has languished since March 14. This is not an isolated case, as numerous student protesters have found themselves ensnared in the government's immigration dragnet in recent months[3].
Travis Fife, an attorney with the Texas Civil Rights Project, one of the groups advocating for Kordia, asserted that the legal team has asked the court to scrutinize "the overt anti-First Amendment remarks of the current administration"[3]. In simpler terms, Fife argues that Kordia's prolonged separation from her home and the denial of her religious liberties stem only from the President's dissatisfaction with her political views.
KERA's requests for comment from ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have yet to elicit a response.
As per a DHS news release in March, Kordia had been detained for supposedly overstaying her F-1 visa[3]. In a related statement, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem insinuated that Kordia's advocacy for "violence and terrorism" invalidated her right to reside in the U.S., a privilege Noem deemed as an honor[3]. Recently, though, DHS issued a press release dubbed "100 Days of Fighting Fake News," asserting Kordia's participation in "anti-American, pro-terrorist activities on campus." However, the arrest supposedly had nothing to do with her radical activities[3].
Fife acknowledges that Kordia's case may take some time to resolve, but he is hopeful that the court will expedite its proceedings and rectify the injustice visited upon Kordia daily. As a devout Muslim, Kordia faces severe deprivation of her religious freedoms at the detention center. She is compelled to sleep on the floor, and the facility's filthy conditions have deterred her from praying for weeks, marking a stark contrast to her past practice of praying every day, five times a day[3].
Fife expressed Kordia's optimism for a swift release, stating, "When someone is being held illegally, we fervently hope that the court will uphold the Constitution and the law by returning Miss Kordia to her doting family in New Jersey"[3].
Priscilla Rice is KERA's communities reporter. If you have a tip, don't hesitate to send an email to [email protected].
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- Travis Fife, an advocate for Kordia's release, asks the court to consider the administration's alleged anti-First Amendment remarks in her case.
- In a general news report, it was mentioned that Kristi Noem, the Homeland Security Secretary, has criticized Kordia for her advocacy, which Noem claims supports violence and terrorism.
- Despite numerous cases of student protesters being detained, the deductible for addressing policy-and-legislation issues related to war-and-conflicts and immigration remains unclear.
- The Texas Civil Rights Project, representing Kordia, has pointed out that her prolonged detention appears to be a form of retaliation for her political views.
- In light of Kordia's detention, there has been a recent trend in the news about the politics surrounding immigration and the treatment of detainees.
