A Palestinian activist walked free from a Texas immigration facility Monday after spending more than a year in detention, marking the end of what her legal team describes as the final case from the Trump administration’s enforcement actions against Gaza war protesters.
Leqaa Kordia, 33, departed the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, and headed back to rejoin her family in New Jersey, according to her attorneys. The West Bank native had been held at the facility since early 2025.
Federal immigration officials took Kordia into custody for remaining in the country beyond her student visa’s expiration date, though her lawyer maintains she was working to obtain permanent legal status. Authorities say local law enforcement initially arrested her during pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University in 2024 as protests erupted over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Immigration Judge Tara Naselow-Nahas granted Kordia’s release Friday after setting bond at $100,000, though her immigration proceedings will move forward. The ruling came after two earlier bond approvals were blocked by government appeals.
During Friday’s hearing, Judge Naselow-Nahas criticized the government’s opposition to Kordia’s release, calling their arguments “disingenuous.”
Kordia required emergency medical treatment last month after suffering a seizure while in custody. She has described the detention facility’s conditions as “filthy” and “inhumane.” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani brought her situation directly to President Donald Trump’s attention.
The Trump administration has targeted pro-Palestinian campus demonstrations, labeling them as antisemitic and pursuing deportation proceedings against foreign nationals who participated while also threatening to cut federal funding to universities.
Kordia and fellow demonstrators, including members of Jewish advocacy organizations, argue that officials are incorrectly framing legitimate criticism of Israel’s Gaza operations and Palestinian territory occupation as antisemitic sentiment, while portraying Palestinian rights advocacy as extremist activity.
