PALESTINIAN WOMAN GRANTED ICE RELEASE FOR THIRD TIME, BUT DETENTION COULD CONTINUE. (PHOTO).

 Palestinian woman granted ICE release for third time, but detention could continue

For the third time, an immigration judge has ordered 33-year-old Palestinian woman Leqaa Kordia released on bond from ICE detention, coinciding with the anniversary of her arrest, though it remains uncertain whether she will actually be freed. Kordia was first taken into custody on March 13, 2025, after immigration authorities said she overstayed a visa that expired on January 26, 2022. Her arrest was part of a series of actions targeting pro-Palestinian demonstrators, including Mahmoud Khalil and Mohsen Mahdawi.

Kordia had previously been arrested at a pro-Palestinian protest outside Columbia University on April 30, 2024, though all charges in that case were quickly dismissed. DHS officials have also alleged that she provided financial support to individuals in countries hostile to the U.S., but Kordia’s attorneys argue the funds were sent to relatives displaced by the conflict in Gaza. In a statement released Friday, Kordia said, “All I want is for the government to finally release me now so I can go home to my family. Until then, I’ll continue speaking up for the basic rights and freedom of all people, from Texas to Palestine.”

The government has twice used an automatic stay to delay her release while appealing previous bond orders, extending her time in detention longer than any other pro-Palestinian demonstrator targeted under the Trump administration. Judge Tara Naselow-Nahas, presiding over Friday’s hearing in Dallas, set Kordia’s bond at $100,000, saying she posed “next to no flight risk” despite the government’s objections. Justice Department attorney Anastasia Norcross argued that “no amount of bond” could guarantee Kordia’s appearance at future proceedings but declined to confirm whether the government would again seek a stay.

Kordia’s lawyers have raised concerns about her health, noting she suffered a seizure in February that required a three-day hospitalization during which she was reportedly shackled at her wrists and ankles. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment.