ALVARADO, Texas — Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian activist, was released on a $100,000 bond after spending a year in immigration detention. The 33-year-old from the West Bank had been held since March 2025, following her arrest during pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University amidst escalating tensions in Gaza.
Upon her release, Kordia exclaimed, I’m free! Finally, after one year, reflecting immense relief after a prolonged and traumatic experience. An immigration judge had ruled multiple times in her favor, and the government finally chose not to challenge the ruling that allowed her release.
Kordia's journey through the immigration system took a toll on her health; she was recently hospitalized after suffering a seizure in detention. Her family expressed gratitude for her release, acknowledging the strain on both her and their family over the past year.
Having participated in the protests to advocate for those affected by the violence in Gaza, Kordia remains committed to fighting for the rights of individuals still held in detention. I want to hug my mother but also keep fighting for those who are still here, she said, highlighting the injustices faced by many noncitizens amid strict immigration policies.
Her case went largely unnoticed compared to other activists due to her lack of association with powerful networks, despite being detained under the Trump administration's heightened immigration enforcement targeting those who criticized Israeli actions. Federal officials had charged her with overstaying her visa based on the financial support she sent back home to family members suffering in Gaza, although an immigration judge found substantial evidence supporting her claims.
As Kordia looks forward to her family reunion, she remains determined to shed light on the injustices around her, asserting, There are a lot of people that shouldn’t be here in the first place. With her case widely drawing attention to the plight of detained activists, Kordia's story reinforces the calls for justice and humane treatment for all individuals facing immigration challenges.
