(RNS) — The Islamic Society of Milwaukee said its president was detained by immigration agents on Monday (March 30).
Salah Sarsour, a Palestinian American businessman and community advocate who leads the largest Muslim group in Wisconsin, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers as he left his Milwaukee home. His lawyers and advocates say Sarsour was targeted for his Muslim faith and advocacy for Palestinians. According to the Islamic Society of Milwaukee’s executive director, Othman Atta, Sarsour also was served a deportation order during his arrest.
Sarsour has been living in the country as a lawful permanent resident since 1993, according to the Muslim Legal Fund of America, which is representing him.
Attorneys with MLFA noted his visa application was approved and vetted by the U.S. nearly 33 years ago, and they said his detention was politically motivated.
“As attorneys, we are alarmed by this administration’s renewed attempt to circumvent the Constitution by leveraging the immigration system to suppress free speech and silence advocacy for Palestinian rights,” staff attorney Jinan Chehade said in a statement.
ICE and the Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment.
Sarsour is also a board member of American Muslims for Palestine, which describes itself as a national organization focused on educating the American public about Palestine.
The organization condemned Sarsour’s arrest. In a statement, AMP said his arrest reflects a troubling trend of the Trump administration’s effort to wield immigration c …
