Whereas hostages from the latest Israel-Gaza battle have been returned as a part of a ceasefire settlement brokered by the Trump administration in early October 2025, one Palestinian girl is rotting in jail, removed from the headlines. Leqaa Kordia, a 32-year-old Palestinian, has been held in ICE custody in Texas since March 2025. Born in Jerusalem and raised in Ramallah, she moved to the US in 2016 to reunite along with her mom in Paterson, New Jersey.Kordia enrolled in an English-language programme on a scholar visa, whereas her mom filed a family-based petition for her everlasting residency, which was accepted in 2021. Kordia has stated she believed the petition granted her lawful standing, however US authorities contend she grew to become undocumented after ending her scholar visa.Her detention adopted participation in protests advocating for Palestinian rights, together with one outdoors Columbia College in April 2024. The Division of Homeland Safety claims she despatched cash to family in Gaza, presenting it as proof of fabric assist for Hamas.Kordia and her authorized staff deny involvement in terrorism, stating that the transfers have been small, totaling round $16,900 over eight years, and meant solely to assist her household. Federal judges have twice ordered her launch, however authorities appeals have saved her in custody.
Youth and household background
Leqaa Kordia was born in Jerusalem and raised in Ramallah within the West Financial institution. Her dad and mom divorced throughout her childhood, and he or she and her brother stayed along with her father whereas her mom moved to the US, later changing into a US citizen. Kordia states that in her youth, she had restricted freedom as a result of Israeli navy occupation, and he or she remained separated from her mom for years.She has described retaining in contact with family in Gaza by means of cellphone calls, permitting her to listen to her cousins’ laughter and see glimpses of life there regardless of Israeli restrictions on motion. Kordia’s household ties have been a spotlight of authorized scrutiny, as she has reportedly despatched cash to family over time, some extent cited by immigration authorities in her detention case.
Entry to the US
In 2016, Kordia entered the US on a customer visa to reunite along with her mom in Paterson, New Jersey, a group with a major Palestinian and Arab inhabitants. She enrolled in an English-language programme on an F-1 scholar visa and later withdrew, believing that her family-based everlasting residency petition ensured lawful standing. Immigration officers, nonetheless, contend that by terminating her scholar visa, she grew to become undocumented.Throughout her time within the US, Kordia labored as a waitress and helped take care of her autistic half-brother. Courtroom paperwork point out she lived a largely atypical life earlier than her detention. Based on her attorneys, she additionally took care of her mom, who resides in Paterson, and remained linked to her prolonged household in Gaza.
Private and emotional motivations
Kordia has misplaced greater than 175 family in Gaza since October 2023, when Israel launched navy operations following assaults by Hamas. She has described receiving calls from members of the family reporting starvation, displacement, and concern. Kordia has said that her participation in protests, together with these outdoors Columbia College, was pushed by concern for her household’s security and her broader consciousness of the battle.The Division of Homeland Safety has characterised such protests as supporting terrorist exercise. Kordia, nonetheless, maintains that her involvement was restricted to public demonstrations, with out coordination with any group. She was reportedly one of many first folks arrested on the Columbia protest, and prices have been later dismissed.
ICE detention and allegations
Kordia was detained at an ICE workplace in Newark on 13 March 2025, after being requested to satisfy officers concerning her immigration standing. The federal government alleges that she despatched funds to family in Gaza, citing it as potential materials assist for Hamas. Kordia and her attorneys contend that the cash, totalling roughly $16,900 over eight years, was meant to assist members of the family with fundamental wants and restoration from conflict-related injury, together with destroyed properties and companies.Based on court docket filings, Kordia was transferred to the Prairieland Detention Middle in Texas, the place she was reportedly assigned a mattress on the ground and acquired restricted non secular lodging. Authorities officers argue she stays in detention as a result of perceived flight danger, whereas her attorneys declare there isn’t any proof linking her to terrorist exercise.
Authorized proceedings
Two federal judges have ordered Kordia’s launch on bond, citing inadequate proof of terrorist exercise. The federal government has appealed these selections, arguing that commonplace bond aid is inappropriate in her case. Authorized specialists have famous that extended detention in circumstances with out severe prison allegations is extremely uncommon.Courtroom paperwork present that New York police offered information of her dismissed protest-related arrests to DHS, which her attorneys describe as improper. Kordia’s authorized staff emphasises that her case stays topic to ongoing appeals and extra asylum proceedings.
Life in detention
Kordia spends her days studying, praying, writing in a journal, and interacting with different detainees. Based on her attorneys, she has confronted restricted entry to halal meals and minimal lodging for non secular practices. Guests, together with her cousin, have famous adjustments in her look and indicators of stress and confusion. Kordia experiences that she solely realized the explanations for her detention days after arriving on the facility, by means of tv protection of protester arrests.She has fashioned connections with different detainees, a few of whom have since been launched, together with Ward Sakeik, a Palestinian girl from Gaza. Kordia’s authorized filings point out she has misplaced important weight and experiences stress over the opportunity of deportation, which her attorneys say may place her in peril.
Ongoing appeals and public consideration
Kordia is the final identified participant from the Columbia protests nonetheless detained. Former detainees and human rights advocates have drawn consideration to her case, whereas authorities authorities cite procedural and safety causes for continued detention. Mahmoud Khalil, a fellow protester who was launched, has publicly referenced her case, noting that she stays “one particular person left behind.”The case has acquired restricted media protection, and officers from DHS have declined to offer detailed commentary. Authorized observers describe her scenario as indicative of the broader challenges confronted by noncitizens concerned in high-profile political protests.Kordia stays in federal custody whereas her appeals and asylum petition proceed. No ultimate decision has been reached. Attorneys and advocacy teams proceed to watch developments, emphasising that the outcomes may have broader implications for a way US authorities deal with the detention of noncitizen protesters.
