The 33-year-old Columbia College protester had been held in immigration detention centre for a yr.
Printed On 16 Mar 2026
Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian lady detained in the United States after collaborating in pro-Palestine demonstrations in 2024, has been launched after a yr in custody.
The 33-year-old, who grew up within the occupied West Financial institution earlier than transferring to the US in 2016, was held at a detention facility within the state of Texas since March final yr.
“I don’t know what to say. I’m free! I’m free! Lastly, after one yr,” a smiling Kordia advised reporters after leaving the detention centre on Monday.
An immigration decide had dominated that Kordia was eligible to be released on bond thrice. Immigration officers appealed the primary two rulings, however Kordia was freed on a $100,000 bond after authorities legal professionals didn’t problem the third.
After her launch, Kordia mentioned she was wanting ahead to going residence and hugging her mom “so onerous”. However she additionally mentioned she would maintain combating on behalf of individuals nonetheless being held on the detention centre.
“There may be numerous injustice on this place,” she mentioned. “There may be lots of people that shouldn’t be right here within the first place.”
Kordia, who misplaced practically 200 members of her household throughout Israel’s genocidal warfare in opposition to Palestinians within the Gaza Strip, was amongst a number of protesters focused by immigration officers for collaborating in pro-Palestine demonstrations at Columbia College in 2024.
Till Monday, she was the one particular person focused in reference to the demonstration who was nonetheless in immigration detention after the discharge of others, together with Mahmoud Khalil and Mohsen Mahdawi.
Kordia, who was held at Prairieland Detention Heart in Alvarado, was just lately hospitalised for 3 days following a seizure after fainting and hitting her head on the privately run detention facility.
At a listening to on Friday, Kordia’s legal professionals mentioned she had a neurological situation that had worsened whereas in custody, placing her at an elevated danger of seizure. They reiterated that she might stick with US citizen members of the family and didn’t pose a flight danger.
The immigration decide, Tara Naslow, agreed.
“I’ve heard testimony. I’ve seen 1000’s of pages of proof offered by the respondent, and little or no proof offered by the federal government in any of this,” Naslow mentioned.
