Columbia University protester released after one year in immigration custody

March 17, 2026

Leqaa Kordia, a 33-year-old Palestinian woman from the West Bank, has been freed from immigration detention in Texas after spending approximately one year in custody. She was initially arrested during Gaza war protests at Columbia University in April 2024 and later re-detained in March 2025 at a routine immigration appointment for overstaying her student visa, which had been terminated in 2022. Federal authorities investigated money she sent overseas, which she claimed was for family members, though an immigration judge found her explanations credible and criticized the government's case as "disingenuous.

Who is affected

Leqaa Kordia (33-year-old Palestinian woman from the West Bank)
Kordia's family members, including her cousin Hamzah Abushaban
Her relatives overseas who received financial support from her
More than 100 demonstrators arrested at Columbia University protests in April 2024
Mahmoud Khalil (Palestinian activist also detained)
International student protesters subject to the Trump administration's crackdown

What action is being taken

Kordia has been released on $100,000 bail and can return to New Jersey
The Trump administration is continuing to pursue her arrest, detention, and removal
Her immigration case is continuing through the legal system
The Department of Homeland Security is maintaining its position that she violated visa terms

Why it matters

This case highlights tensions between immigration enforcement, free speech rights, and political activism in the United States. It raises questions about whether individuals are being targeted for their political advocacy rather than solely for immigration violations, particularly during the Trump administration's crackdown on international student protesters. The detention also brings attention to conditions in immigration detention facilities and the treatment of individuals held there, with Kordia alleging she experienced inhumane conditions including being chained to a bed after a medical emergency. The case exemplifies broader debates about how immigration law intersects with First Amendment rights and whether protest activity influences enforcement decisions.

What's next

Kordia's immigration case will continue as she resides in New Jersey. The Trump administration has stated it will continue to fight for her arrest, detention, and removal from the country.

Read full article from source: BBC