Salah Sarsour, president of Wisconsin’s largest mosque and a permanent U.S. resident for nearly three decades, spoke publicly following his release last month after more than 80 days in federal immigration custody. Sarsour was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in March. A federal judge determined that he had probably been detained in retaliation for his advocacy regarding Palestinian rights, a finding the judge said would render such detention unlawful. The Trump administration continues to pursue his deportation.
Sarsour described his detention experience as involving treatment he characterized as dehumanizing, including inadequate food, a thin mattress, and restrictions on religious observance. He stated he lost more than 30 pounds during his time in custody. The Department of Homeland Security has claimed Sarsour was suspected of funding terror organizations and lying on immigration forms, allegations he has denied. DHS cited decades-old military court convictions in Israel from 1989, when Sarsour says he was arrested as a teenager during the first intifada. He maintains he was forced under torture and threat of rape to sign documents in Hebrew that he did not understand, and served two years in an Israeli military prison.
Sarsour’s detention drew condemnation from civil rights groups, community members, and legislators. Secretary of State Marco Rubio personally signed a memo describing Sarsour as deportable, stating “his actions undermine US foreign policy to combat antisemitism around the world.” Sarsour is a board member of American Muslims for Palestine, which Trump administration officials have accused of countering U.S. foreign policy interests. His attorneys argue the government has expedited his immigration case to make a political statement.
Sarsour is scheduled to appear in Chicago federal court for a substantive hearing in his immigration case, while a separate case examining the legality of his detention proceeds through the court system. Sarsour, the owner of several businesses and father of six U.S. citizens, stated he intends to continue his advocacy work regardless of the legal proceedings.