Salah Sarsour, a 53-year-old Palestinian-born permanent resident who leads Wisconsin's largest mosque, was let go from an Indiana jail on June 18, 2026. A federal judge ordered his release after nearly three months of detention that began with his arrest on March 30.

Reuters reported the news that day. Indiana Public Radio covered the court's order. According to Wisconsin Public Radio, his lawyers said he lost 30 pounds during the time in jail. His supporters said he was detained because he criticized Israel publicly. ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has not responded to this claim. The agency says people are held in detention only when the law requires it or when their individual case requires it.

Other Cases Like His

Sarsour's release is not isolated. Several other Palestinians and pro-Palestinian activists have also been ordered released from immigration detention recently.

Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate, was released from a Louisiana jail on June 20, 2025, after 104 days in detention. A federal judge ordered his release. Reuters and AP reported it. A higher court had already ruled in January 2026 that Khalil should be freed by June 20.

Before Khalil, Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi was released on April 30, 2025, after a judge said he was allowed bail. Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian from the West Bank who was arrested for overstaying a student visa, was released on a $100,000 bond on March 17, 2026, after a judge ordered it.

All of these cases followed the same basic path: someone was detained by immigration authorities, their lawyer challenged the detention in court, and a judge ordered them released.

Why This Pattern Matters

What makes Sarsour's case different from the others is his status. Think of immigration status like different levels of legal standing. Khalil and Mahdawi were students on temporary visas. Sarsour is a permanent resident—he has a green card, which means he has lived and worked in the U.S. legally for years. A green card holder has stronger legal protections than someone on a student visa. The government has a harder time removing someone with permanent resident status.

ICE has not explained publicly why it detained Sarsour or what it accused him of. His supporters, citing PBS NewsHour, say he was punished for his public statements against Israel.

What stands out here is that multiple judges in different courts have all ordered people released in similar situations. But the courts have not yet answered the big question underneath all of this: Can the government actually detain or deport someone simply because of what they say about politics?

That question is still being decided in the courts. For now, judges keep saying the detention does not hold up legally. But the larger argument—about whether the government can use immigration law to punish people for their speech—has not been settled.