Mosque Leader Detained by ICE, Accused of Hiding Past Conviction

Salah Salem Sarsour, president of Wisconsin's largest mosque, faces deportation over alleged failure to disclose conviction in Israel.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 4:11pm

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A serene, photorealistic painting of a mosque building in a city setting, with warm sunlight casting long shadows across the facade and surrounding area, evoking a sense of quiet contemplation and the weight of political tensions.The detention of a prominent Muslim community leader exposes the fragility of legal protections for immigrants with past convictions.Today in Milwaukee

Federal immigration authorities have detained Salah Salem Sarsour, the president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, the largest mosque in Wisconsin. ICE alleges that Sarsour, a Jordanian national, concealed a past conviction in Israel for throwing a Molotov cocktail at the homes of Israeli armed forces and attempting to possess weapons and ammunition. The agency claims Sarsour failed to disclose this history on his U.S. immigration application and improperly obtained lawful permanent resident status.

Why it matters

The detention of a prominent Muslim community leader has sparked outrage and accusations that Sarsour is being targeted for his Palestinian and Muslim background, as well as his advocacy for Palestinian rights. The case highlights ongoing tensions between immigration enforcement and religious/ethnic minority groups, raising concerns about the erosion of democratic norms and legal protections.

The details

According to the Department of Homeland Security, Sarsour was previously convicted in Israel for throwing a Molotov cocktail at the homes of Israeli armed forces and attempting to possess weapons and ammunition. ICE alleges he failed to disclose this history on his U.S. immigration application and improperly obtained lawful permanent resident status in 1998 under President Clinton. Sarsour has been the board president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, the largest Islamic organization in Wisconsin, for the past five years.

  • Sarsour was arrested by ICE in a targeted operation earlier this week.
  • Sarsour obtained lawful permanent resident status in the U.S. in 1998 under President Clinton.

The players

Salah Salem Sarsour

The president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, the largest mosque in Wisconsin. He is a Jordanian national who was previously convicted in Israel for throwing a Molotov cocktail at the homes of Israeli armed forces and attempting to possess weapons and ammunition.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal immigration enforcement agency that arrested Sarsour, alleging he concealed his past conviction and improperly obtained legal status in the U.S.

Department of Homeland Security

The agency that released a statement about Sarsour's case, accusing him of being a "terrorist" and an "illegal alien" who lied on his green card application.

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What they’re saying

“Salah Salem Sarsour is a terrorist convicted for throwing Molotov cocktails at the homes of Israeli armed forces. This illegal alien from Jordan lied on his green card application to gain legal status in the U.S.”

— Lauren Bis, DHS Acting Assistant Secretary

“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, Sarsour's 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.”

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

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 ongoing tensions between immigration enforcement and religious/ethnic minority groups, raising concerns about the erosion of democratic norms and legal protections for immigrants, particularly those with past convictions or ties to political conflicts abroad.