Elected leaders and clergy seek release of Wisconsin mosque president detained by immigration agents

Salah Sarsour, a Palestinian-born legal permanent resident, was detained by ICE agents after leaving his home in Milwaukee.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 11:03pm

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A serene, cinematic painting of a solitary mosque or community center building, its facade and windows bathed in warm, golden light and deep shadows, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and the weight of political tensions.The detention of a prominent mosque leader raises concerns about the potential misuse of immigration authorities to silence political dissent.Today in Milwaukee

The president of Wisconsin's largest mosque, Salah Sarsour, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, drawing accusations from local officials and religious leaders that the arrest was motivated by his criticism of Israel. Sarsour's attorneys say he has no criminal record in the U.S. and that the government has known about his past conviction by Israeli military courts since he came to the U.S. in 1993. They believe Sarsour, a legal permanent resident, was targeted for speaking out against Israel.

Why it matters

The case has sparked outrage from community leaders who see it as an attempt to silence opposition and intimidate those who speak out differently. It raises concerns about the use of immigration authorities to target individuals for their political views and criticism of foreign governments.

The details

Salah Sarsour, the 53-year-old president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, was detained by nearly a dozen ICE agents after leaving his home on Monday. His attorneys say he was detained on the grounds that he is a foreign policy threat, a claim they say has no merit. Instead, they believe Sarsour was targeted for his criticism of Israel and a past conviction by Israeli military courts for offenses such as allegedly throwing rocks at Israeli officers.

  • Sarsour was detained by ICE agents on Monday after leaving his home in Milwaukee.
  • Sarsour has been the board president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, the largest Islamic organization in the state, for five years.

The players

Salah Sarsour

The 53-year-old president of Wisconsin's largest mosque, the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, and a legal permanent resident of the United States.

Munjed Ahmad

One of Sarsour's attorneys, who believes Sarsour was targeted for his criticism of Israel and past convictions by Israeli military courts.

Othman Atta

One of Sarsour's attorneys, who told a crowd at a news conference that Sarsour was 'targeted because he dared stand up to the Israeli army.'

Cavalier Johnson

The mayor of Milwaukee, who called Sarsour's arrest 'an outrage' and 'another example of overreach and harm from the U.S. immigration authorities.'

Paul D. Erickson

The bishop of the Greater Milwaukee Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, who called Sarsour's arrest 'the latest example of how this administration seeks to silence opposition and intimidate those who speak and act differently.'

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What they’re saying

“'Our government should not be doing the bidding of a foreign government. There's no question in my mind is that this is to stifle the discourse on the Palestinian narrative.'”

— Munjed Ahmad, Attorney

“'He was targeted because of one thing, because he dared stand up to the Israeli army. And he was not a U.S. citizen.'”

— Othman Atta, Attorney

“'This appears to be just the latest example of how this administration seeks to silence opposition and intimidate those who speak and act differently'”

— Paul D. Erickson, Bishop of the Greater Milwaukee Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

“'He is a legal permanent resident. There is no substantive evidence he has done anything wrong. This is another example of overreach and harm from the U.S. immigration authorities.'”

— Cavalier Johnson, Mayor of Milwaukee

What’s next

Sarsour's attorneys have filed a petition seeking his release from the county jail in Indiana where he is being held.

The takeaway

This case highlights concerns about the use of immigration authorities to target individuals for their political views and criticism of foreign governments, raising questions about free speech and the treatment of legal permanent residents.