ALVARADO, Texas (AP) — A Palestinian woman who was the last person still in immigration detention after the Trump administration’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists was released Monday on $100,000 bond after a year in custody.
Leqaa Kordia, a 33-year-old from the West Bank who has lived in New Jersey since 2016, had been held in a U.S. immigration detention center in Texas since last March. Kordia was among roughly 100 people arrested outside Columbia University during protests in 2024.
“I don’t know what to say. I’m free! I’m free! Finally, after one year,” Kordia exclaimed with a smile as she emerged from the detention center, showcasing the emotional relief she felt after a lengthy struggle.
An immigration judge had ordered her release on bond three times, with the government challenging the first two rulings. She was finally freed after the government did not challenge the third ruling.
Despite being released, Kordia had faced serious health concerns, having recently been hospitalized for a seizure following a fainting incident while in custody. Her family expressed relief at her release, acknowledging the toll her detention has taken on all of them.
Kordia expressed her eagerness to return home to her mother but emphasized her commitment to continue the fight for those still in detention, stating, “There is a lot of injustice in this place.” She described the personal motivation behind her activism, stemming from the tragic loss of relatives in Gaza, which led her to join the demonstration in 2024.
The legal entanglements surrounding Kordia's detention highlight the heightened focus on immigration enforcement practices targeting activists and voices critical of U.S. foreign policies.
