Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian immigrant and activist, has returned to her home in Paterson, New Jersey, after spending more than a year in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. Kordia, who describes her time in detention as experiencing “ICE dungeons,” spoke publicly for the first time on March 22, 2026, detailing a harrowing journey from student protests to a Texas detention facility.
The 33-year-ancient’s case has drawn significant attention to the intersection of political activism and immigration enforcement. Kordia’s detention followed a trajectory that began with Gaza solidarity protests at Columbia University in April 2024, where she was among dozens arrested. While the charges from that event were dropped the following day, her legal struggles intensified a year later during a routine administrative process reported by The Guardian.
Kordia was detained by ICE in March 2025 during an immigration check-in in New Jersey. She describes the arrest as unexpected, stating that a scheduled meeting with her lawyer and agents resulted in her being taken in an unmarked car to an airport. Despite her lawyer being informed she was being moved to upstate New York, Kordia was instead transported to the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas.
Conditions at Prairieland Detention Center
During her tenure at the Prairieland Detention Center, Kordia reports enduring destitute conditions characterized by overcrowding, inadequate medical care, and broken facilities. She described the environment as a “human tragedy,” noting that the methods used by ICE agents and the overall state of the facility mirrored experiences she had witnessed in the occupied West Bank, where she was born.
The physical and psychological toll of her confinement was severe. Kordia revealed during a rally at Paterson City Hall that the combination of extreme stress, lack of nutrition, and sleep deprivation led to her suffering the first seizure of her life according to CBS News New York. Following this medical emergency, she was hospitalized for several days; her family stated that she remained chained to her hospital bed during her treatment. As a result of these health complications, Kordia is now required to take heavy anti-seizure medication.
The Human Cost of Activism
For Kordia, the motivation for her activism was deeply personal. She disclosed that more than 200 members of her extended family were killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza. She clarified that she did not view herself as a professional activist, but rather as a “Palestinian girl, protesting her family being killed.”
Her experience was not isolated. Among those who gathered to support her release were Mahmoud Khalil and Mohsen Mahdawi, former Columbia graduate students and pro-Palestinian advocates who were similarly detained by ICE. The coordinated nature of these detentions has raised questions among advocates regarding the targeting of student activists and those advocating for Palestinian rights.
Parallels Between Detention and Occupation
Kordia has explicitly linked her experience in the U.S. Immigration system to the systemic treatment of Palestinians. She noted “a lot of similarities” between the treatment of detainees in ICE custody and the lives of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. This perspective has shifted her focus toward a broader advocacy role.
While she continues to advocate for Palestinian rights, Kordia now views it as her duty to denounce the conditions of immigration detention within the United States. She expressed a profound sense of sadness for the “beautiful, courageous, innocent women and men” she left behind at the Texas facility, stating that their only “crime” was dreaming of a better life or defending their rights.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| April 2024 | Arrested during pro-Palestinian protests; charges dropped the next day | Columbia University, NY |
| March 2025 | Detained by ICE during a routine immigration check-in | New Jersey |
| March 2025 – March 2026 | Incarcerated at Prairieland Detention Center | Alvarado, Texas |
| March 1 or 16, 2026 | Released from ICE custody | Texas |
| March 22, 2026 | First public speech following release | Paterson, New Jersey |
Broader Implications for Immigration Policy
The case of Leqaa Kordia highlights the precarious nature of immigration status for those engaged in political dissent. The transition from a dropped criminal charge in New York to a year-long detention in Texas underscores the broad discretionary powers held by ICE during routine check-ins. For many, this serves as a cautionary example of how administrative immigration processes can be utilized to isolate activists from their legal counsel and support networks.
Kordia’s return coincided with Eid al-Fitr, the Islamic holiday marking the end of Ramadan. While celebrating her freedom with family and lawmakers, she emphasized that her primary goal moving forward is to advocate for those still held in overcrowded dorms and facing similar medical negligence.
There are currently no further scheduled court dates or official hearings announced for Kordia, as she has been released from custody. However, her ongoing medical treatment and her efforts to bring international attention to the Prairieland Detention Center remain central to her current activities.
We invite our readers to share their perspectives on the intersection of civil liberties and immigration enforcement in the comments section below.