US judge orders release of Palestinian rights advocate detained by ICE
Key takeaways
- Mosque leader says he was arrested and detained by immigration authorities for his advocacy on behalf of Palestine.
- On Thursday, US District Judge James Patrick Hanlon ruled that Sarsour had raised a “substantial” claim that he was targeted for speech protected under the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
- Hanlon also dismissed claims made under President Donald Trump that pro-Palestinian speech undermines US foreign policy interests.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Mosque leader says he was arrested and detained by immigration authorities for his advocacy on behalf of Palestine.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Islamic Society of Milwaukee president Salah Sarsour smiles after his release from a county jail in Indiana on June 18 [Yaseen Najeeb via AP]By Al Jazeera Staff, Reuters and The Associated Press Published On 18 Jun 202618 Jun 2026A federal judge in the United States has ordered the release of Salah Sarsour, a Muslim leader who says his detention by immigration authorities was a form of retaliation for his outspoken support of Palestine.
On Thursday, US District Judge James Patrick Hanlon ruled that Sarsour had raised a “substantial” claim that he was targeted for speech protected under the First Amendment of the US Constitution. That, in turn, could “render his detention unlawful”.