Islamic Society of Milwaukee President Detained by ICE

Salah Sarsour, a Palestinian American, has been held in custody since Monday, the mosque says.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 8:42pm

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A realistic painting of an ICE enforcement vehicle parked on a dimly lit urban street, with warm sunlight casting dramatic shadows across the scene, conveying a sense of tension and unease.The detention of a prominent Muslim community leader by immigration authorities casts a somber shadow over a Milwaukee neighborhood.Chicago Today

The Islamic Society of Milwaukee (ISM) has reported that its president, Salah Sarsour, a 53-year-old Palestinian American who has lived in the U.S. for over 30 years, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Monday. The mosque claims Sarsour, a legal permanent resident, was pulled over by over 10 ICE agents with no cause and is now being held at a detention facility in Indiana.

Why it matters

The detention of the ISM president, who has advocated for Palestinian rights, is seen by the mosque as targeting him based on his Palestinian and Muslim background. The Trump administration's immigration crackdown has faced criticism from rights groups for violating due process and free speech, particularly targeting pro-Palestinian voices.

The details

According to the mosque, deportation documents against Sarsour focus on his arrest as a teenager living in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, arguing he provided material support for extremists. The mosque denies Sarsour supported the militant group Hamas, and says he is "being targeted on the basis of his Palestinian and Muslim background, and his advocacy for Palestinian rights."

  • Sarsour was detained by ICE on Monday, April 1, 2026.
  • Sarsour was initially held at a detention facility in Chicago before being transferred to a center in Indiana.

The players

Salah Sarsour

The 53-year-old president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, who is a Palestinian American and legal permanent resident of the U.S. for over 30 years.

Islamic Society of Milwaukee (ISM)

The largest mosque in Wisconsin, which has reported Sarsour's detention by ICE.

Othman Atta

The executive director of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that detained Salah Sarsour.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president whose administration has pursued an immigration crackdown that has faced criticism from rights groups.

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What’s next

The Islamic Society of Milwaukee says it is working to secure Sarsour's release and fighting his potential deportation.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies and the rights of minority communities, particularly those with ties to the Palestinian cause. It raises concerns about due process and the potential targeting of activists based on their background and political views.