Last Protester in Immigration Detention After Trump's Campus Crackdown Released

Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian woman, was held for a year before being freed on $100,000 bond

Mar. 17, 2026 at 3:18am

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A Palestinian woman named Leqaa Kordia, who was the last person still in immigration detention after the Trump administration's 2025 crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists, was released on Monday on $100,000 bond after being held in custody for a year. Kordia was among roughly 100 people arrested outside Columbia University during protests at the school in 2024.

Why it matters

This case highlights the Trump administration's use of immigration enforcement powers to target noncitizens who had criticized or protested Israel's military actions in Gaza, including many students and scholars at American universities. Kordia's release after a year in detention raises questions about the fairness and legality of these tactics.

The details

Kordia, a 33-year-old from the West Bank who has lived in New Jersey since 2016, was held in a U.S. immigration detention center in Texas since last March. The charges against her for the 2024 protest were dismissed and sealed, but information about her arrest was later given to the Trump administration by the New York City Police Department, who said it was needed as part of a money laundering investigation. Kordia was arrested during a March 2025 check-in with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New Jersey and immediately detained and flown to the Prairieland Detention Center.

  • Kordia was arrested during a March 13, 2025 check-in with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New Jersey.
  • Kordia had been held in a U.S. immigration detention center in Texas since last March.

The players

Leqaa Kordia

A 33-year-old Palestinian woman from the West Bank who has lived in New Jersey since 2016.

Hamzah Abushaban

Kordia's cousin.

Tara Naslow

The immigration judge who agreed to release Kordia on bond.

Anastasia Norcross

An attorney for the Department of Homeland Security who opposed Kordia's release.

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What they’re saying

“We are overwhelmed with relief and gratitude at the release of our beloved Leqaa Kordia. This past year has taken an unimaginable toll on Leqaa and our entire family.”

— Hamzah Abushaban, Kordia's cousin

“I don't know what to say. I'm free! I'm free! Finally, after one year.”

— Leqaa Kordia

“There is a lot of injustice in this place. There is a lot of people that shouldn't be here the first place.”

— Leqaa Kordia

What’s next

The immigration judge's decision to release Kordia on bond may be challenged by the government, so her case could continue to be monitored for any further developments.

The takeaway

This case highlights the Trump administration's controversial use of immigration enforcement to target activists and critics, raising concerns about civil liberties and the fair treatment of noncitizens. Kordia's release after a year in detention is a victory, but the broader issues around these tactics remain unresolved.