Sarsour had been held apart from his family for more than 80 days in Indiana
A U.S. district court Judge in Indiana today ordered the immediate release of Salah Sarsour, a Palestinian and Muslim community leader from Milwaukee, held for more than 80 days in immigration custody as part of the Trump Administration’s attack on free speech. A legal resident of the United States for more than three decades, Sarsour has been an outspoken advocate for Palestinian human rights, like others who have been singled out and targeted for engaging in speech the Trump Administration opposes.
In ordering his immediate release on his own recognizance, U.S. District Judge James P. Hanlon explained in a 29-page order that “Mr. Sarsour has raised a ‘substantial’ First Amendment retaliation claim, which could render his detention unlawful” and that “Mr. Sarsour’s speech in support of Palestinian rights is protected by the first amendment.” The court also noted his “decades of living a law abiding life in the United States” and that the government previously reviewed Sarsour’s record and approved him for lawful residence. The court also took into account that Sarsour lost more than 30 pounds while incarcerated and was diabetic but was not provided with daily monitoring of his blood glucose levels.
In response to the judge’s decision, the Sarsour legal team issued the following statement:
We are ecstatic for Salah Sarsour and his family that they will soon be reunited.
In issuing this order, the federal judge made clear that the government cannot detain a lawful permanent resident for speaking out about Palestinian human rights. Salah Sarsour, who has lived in this country for more than three decades and served as a core pillar in his community without any issues, should never have been detained in the first place.
While we continue to fight these baseless claims in court, today is about celebrating a family being reunited. It is also a sober reminder that, if the government can target Mr. Sarsour, everyone’s free speech rights are at risk.
Salah Sarsour is represented, among others, by the ACLU of Illinois and Beldock Levine & Hoffman.
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