Wisconsin Mosque President Released After 80 Days in ICE Detention, Judge Cites ‘Substantial’ Claim of Targeting

• by Shimanta Das
• October 4, 2026

A federal judge ordered the release of Salah Sarsour, president of Wisconsin’s largest mosque, from immigration detention on Thursday, finding that he raised a “substantial” claim that he was being targeted for speaking out in favor of Palestinian rights. Sarsour, a Palestinian-born legal permanent resident of the United States, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Milwaukee in March and spent more than 80 days in federal immigration custody. His release came after a judge determined that the government’s case against him may have been motivated by his pro-Palestinian activism.

In his first interview since being released last month, Sarsour described the treatment he endured as “dehumanizing” and reminiscent of his time in Israeli military prisons in occupied Palestine nearly four decades ago. “It all brought back old memories of things that happened to me when I was tried in Palestine,” he said. “The humiliation, the treatment by guards, the way they talk to people, the way they try to put people down.” During his first deportation hearing in July, Sarsour’s legal team maintained that the federal government has known about his conviction for years and that he was being targeted now due to his pro-Palestinian activism.

Despite the federal judge’s release order, an immigration judge has cleared the way for Sarsour’s deportation on the grounds that he is a threat to national security. His attorney, Taurel, said he cannot be deported while that appeal is pending and will remain in the U.S. for the “foreseeable future.” The case highlights the ongoing legal battle over the intersection of immigration enforcement and First Amendment rights, as Sarsour continues to advocate for Palestinian rights while fighting deportation.

The Trump administration has faced criticism for targeting individuals based on their political speech, and Sarsour’s case has drawn national attention. His release marks a temporary victory, but the threat of deportation looms as the appeal process continues. Sarsour’s experience underscores the broader concerns about the treatment of immigrants and the use of detention as a tool against activists.