A US immigration judge has ruled that the government can deport Salah Sarsour, the president of Wisconsin’s largest mosque, under a Cold War-era provision of immigration law.
Sarsour, a Palestinian American and US permanent resident, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in late March. He spent more than 80 days in detention before being released in June after a federal judge found that he had raised a substantial claim that his detention was retaliation for protected speech.
Chicago Immigration Court Judge Jayme Salinardi ruled late Tuesday in favor of the government’s argument that Sarsour represents a security and foreign-policy threat under the Immigration and Nationality Act. However, the judge rejected the government’s separate allegation that Sarsour had provided false information on his green card application.
The Department of Homeland Security welcomed the decision, saying the ruling established several grounds for removing Sarsour from the United States.
Sarsour said he intends to challenge the decision.
Calling the ruling deeply disappointing, he said he would continue advocating for justice and Palestinian rights.
The decision does not mean Sarsour will be immediately removed from the country. His deportation is on hold while he pursues the legal challenges available to him. Sarsour has also said that being sent back to the West Bank would put his life at risk.
The Islamic Society of Milwaukee, which operates Wisconsin’s largest mosque, says Sarsour has lived in the United States for more than 30 years. The organization has argued that his detention and immigration case are connected to his Palestinian and Muslim background as well as his advocacy on Palestinian issues.
His legal team has also said that Sarsour, who has type 2 diabetes, lost more than 30 pounds while in ICE custody.
Sarsour has no criminal record in the United States. Before moving to the country, however, he was convicted as a teenager in an Israeli military court. The Trump administration has cited that conviction as evidence of a security concern.
Sarsour disputes the underlying allegations, saying he was tortured and pressured into making confessions. His lawyers have maintained that US authorities have been aware of his past for decades.
Rights groups have also raised concerns about the operation of Israeli military courts in the West Bank, where Palestinians are prosecuted for alleged offenses. B’Tselem has reported a conviction rate of about 96% and documented allegations involving coercive interrogation practices.
The Trump administration has intensified its scrutiny of pro-Palestinian activists and other foreign nationals since returning to office. Its actions have included immigration cases involving protesters, scrutiny of immigrants’ social media activity and pressure on universities where pro-Palestinian demonstrations have taken place.
The administration has argued that some pro-Palestinian activism crosses into antisemitism or support for extremist groups. Advocacy organizations, including some Jewish groups, have rejected that characterization, saying criticism of Israeli government policies and support for Palestinian rights should not automatically be equated with antisemitism or extremism.
For now, Sarsour remains in the United States as his case moves through the appeals process.
