For a 3rd time and on the anniversary of her arrest, an immigration decide has ordered Leqaa Kordia, 33 — a Palestinian girl arrested throughout a gathering with immigration officers — launched from ICE detention on bond, nevertheless it’s unclear if she’ll be freed.
Kordia was arrested March 13, 2025, for allegedly overstaying her expired visa, which the Division of Homeland Safety stated terminated on Jan. 26, 2022. Her arrest was one in all a number of that focused pro-Palestinian demonstrators like Mahmoud Khalil and Mohsen Mahdawi.
Columbia college students, professors, and supporters collect on the college to rally in assist of Mahmoud Khalil, Leqaa Kordia, and the quite a few different group members who’ve been unlawfully detained by ICE in New York Metropolis, March 9, 2026.
Selcuk Acar/Anadolu by way of Getty Pictures
Kordia additionally was arrested at a pro-Palestinian protest outdoors Columbia College on April 30, 2024, however all prices in opposition to her have been promptly dismissed.
DHS officers have additionally claimed Kordia has offered monetary assist to individuals residing in nations hostile to the US. Kordia’s attorneys say the funds in query have been made to family displaced by the warfare in Gaza.
“I’m deeply grateful for all of the individuals who attended at the moment’s bond listening to on the one-year mark of my detention,” Kordia in an announcement launched by her attorneys Friday. “To see so many individuals through the listening to at the moment made me really feel cherished and supported, and it made me assured that freedom is close to. All I would like is for the federal government to lastly launch me now so I can go dwelling to my household. Till then, I’ll proceed talking up for the fundamental rights and freedom of all individuals, from Texas to Palestine.”
The federal government has twice invoked an computerized keep of the bond order in order that they will attraction the choice to launch Kordia, which has prolonged her time in detention. She’s now been detained longer than every other pro-Palestinian demonstrator focused by the Trump administration.
Columbia College graduate and Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil speaks throughout a press convention on the one-year anniversary of his ICE arrest, March 9, 2026.
Cayla Bamberger/New York Every day Information by way of Newscom
“So this our third bond listening to. I’ve heard testimony, I’ve seen 1000’s of pages of proof now being offered by the respondent, little or no proof offered by the federal government in any of this,” Decide Tara Naselow-Nahas stated throughout Friday’s listening to in Dallas, Texas. “I nonetheless imagine that respondent poses subsequent to no flight danger.”
Naselow-Nahas set Kordia’s bond at $100,000.
After the decide ordered Kordia’s launch the second time, in August 2025, the federal government stated the set bond of $20,000 was not sufficient to mitigate the danger she might flee as soon as launched. In courtroom Friday, Justice Division legal professional Anastasia Norcross stated “no quantity of bond” can be adequate to make sure her presence at future proceedings.
Leqaa Kordia, second from proper, demonstrates with pro-Palestianian protesters as they collect close to a foremost gate at Columbia College in New York Metropolis, April 30, 2024.
Craig Ruttle/AP
When requested, Norcross stated she couldn’t say whether or not the federal government would once more invoke an computerized keep of the order to launch Kordia.
Kordia’s attorneys say their consumer’s well being is in danger if she continues to be detained. She suffered a seizure in February and was despatched to the hospital for 3 days, throughout which era she claimed she was shackled at her wrists and ankles, in keeping with courtroom paperwork.
An ABC Information request for remark despatched to the Division of Homeland Safety didn’t instantly obtain a response.
