Milwaukee Community Rallies to Support Detained ISM President

Hundreds gather to demand release of Salah Sarsour, a longtime community leader taken by ICE agents.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 10:52pm

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A warm, nostalgic painting of a solitary microphone stand on a stage, with diagonal sunlight casting deep shadows, conveying the somber yet determined mood of the community rally for the detained Salah Sarsour.The empty podium at the Islamic Society of Milwaukee's community center symbolizes the absence of Salah Sarsour, the organization's detained president, whose supporters filled the space to demand his release.Today in Milwaukee

Hundreds of people, including faith leaders, activists, elected officials, and community members, filled the Islamic Society of Milwaukee's community center to show support for Salah Sarsour, the organization's president who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Monday. Speakers condemned the arrest as a politically motivated attack on a respected community figure and called for Sarsour's immediate release.

Why it matters

Sarsour's detention has sparked outrage in Milwaukee's diverse faith and activist communities, who view it as an attack on immigrant rights and free speech, particularly Sarsour's advocacy for Palestinian rights. The case highlights concerns about the use of immigration enforcement as a tool to silence dissent and target prominent immigrant leaders.

The details

On Monday, more than 10 ICE agents arrested Salah Sarsour, the president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, and took him out of state. Sarsour, a Jordanian national and longtime Milwaukee resident, has no criminal record but was previously held without charges and interrogated for over 80 days in occupied Palestine, an experience he did not fully understand due to torture and being forced to sign documents in Hebrew. Despite this history, the U.S. government granted Sarsour a green card under President Clinton.

  • On Monday, Salah Sarsour was arrested by ICE agents.
  • The hastily organized press conference and rally took place on Tuesday afternoon.

The players

Salah Sarsour

The president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, a longtime community leader and advocate for Palestinian rights who was detained by ICE agents on Monday.

Othman Atta

The executive director of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, who spoke at the rally about Sarsour's contributions to the community.

Kareem Sarsour

Salah Sarsour's eldest son, who spoke about his father's generosity and role model qualities at the rally.

Janan Najeeb

The founder and executive director of the Muslim Women's Coalition, who called Sarsour a "political prisoner" and condemned his arrest.

Fauzia Qureshi

The executive director of the Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance and Wisconsin Muslim Civic Foundation, who spoke about Sarsour's history of supporting families and young people in the community.

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What they’re saying

“Salah Sarsour is a person who people in and outside our community view as being a great leader—a Muslim leader, a Palestinian leader, an activist, a family man, a humanitarian, a philanthropist.”

— Othman Atta, Executive Director, Islamic Society of Milwaukee

“If we've learned anything over the centuries it's that we cannot let fear silence us. We must stand firm, we must stand together and we must raise our voices until the dignity of all are respected! We must embrace the truth that none of us are free until all of us are free!”

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

“We know when they come for Salah Sarsour, they come for all of us. Immigrants are bearing the brunt of a wave of brutal repression. This administration, with its devastating and unpopular policies in the United States and around the world, wants to silence all authentic voices of resistance.”

— Rachel Ida Buff, Ph.D., Professor of Immigration History, Co-Founder of Milwaukee Chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace

What’s next

The judge in Salah Sarsour's case will decide on Thursday whether to allow him to be released on bail while his immigration case proceeds.

The takeaway

Salah Sarsour's detention has galvanized Milwaukee's diverse faith, activist, and immigrant communities, who view it as a politically motivated attack on a respected community leader and an attempt to silence dissent, particularly around the issue of Palestinian rights. The case highlights ongoing concerns about the use of immigration enforcement to target outspoken immigrant advocates.