Palestinian Community Leader Salah Sarsour Continues to Face Accelerated Deportation Proceedings in Immigration Court
July 29, 2026 — Chicago, Illinois — In Chicago Immigration Court today, Salah Sarsour, a legal, permanent resident and a Palestinian and Muslim community leader from Wisconsin, appeared again before an immigration judge as part of the Trump administration’s attempt to remove Mr. Sarsour from the place he’s called home for more than 32 years.
Among the five witnesses are Bonita Cho, an immigration attorney and Amahl Bishara, Associate Professor and Chair of the Anthropology Department at Tufts University.
- Cho testified that Mr. Sarsour has consistently maintained that his Israeli military court convictions are the result of false confessions secured through torture and that Mr. Sarsour has consistently denied ever purposefully registering to vote.
- Bishara’s testimony illuminated how stone throwing by Palestinian children is often a form of expression in response to the illegal military occupation by Israel and not a form of violent resistance.
Mr. Sarsour shared: “This immigration proceeding has made it clear that I am being unfairly targeted by this administration for my advocacy on Palestinian human rights. I put my trust in God and my legal team to navigate this attack on me and the life I have built in America, and that I can continue to be with my family in Wisconsin as I have for the past three decades.”
Sarsour’s lead immigration court counsel Patrick Taurel, said: “It is an outrage that we are here at all. There can be no doubt that the Trump Administration is seeking to stifle pro-Palestine speech. Mr. Sarsour has been subjected to this traumatizing experience simply because they disfavor his speech. Worst of all, he now risks separation from his kids, grandkids, and everything he holds dear, all because he has been resolute in continuing to speak up about injustices being committed against Palestinians.”
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
More about the Arrest of Salah Sarsour
- PTSD and Torture Claims by Salah Sarsour Contested in Federal Hearing - Isiah Holmes - Jul 30th, 2026
- Palestinian Community Leader Salah Sarsour Continues to Face Accelerated Deportation Proceedings in Immigration Court - Press Release - Jul 29th, 2026
- After 81 Days In ICE Detention, Salah Sarsour Fights To Stay In Milwaukee - Anya van Wagtendonk - Jul 23rd, 2026
- Libertarian Party of Wisconsin Calls ICE Detention of Milwaukee Mosque Leader a Threat to Free Speech - Libertarian Party of Wisconsin - Jun 23rd, 2026
- Judge Orders Release of Milwaukee Islamic Leader - Graham Kilmer - Jun 18th, 2026
- Congresswoman Gwen Moore Applauds Court Order Requiring Release of Salah Sarsour From ICE Detention - U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore - Jun 18th, 2026
- Congresswoman Gwen Moore Statement on Second Visit to Conduct Wellness Check on Salah Sarsour - U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore - Jun 15th, 2026
- Muslim Leader’s Health Deteriorating in Immigration Lockup - Graham Kilmer - Jun 9th, 2026
- MKE County: Board Condemns Salah Sarsour’s Detention - Graham Kilmer - May 29th, 2026
- Congresswoman Gwen Moore Leads Colleagues in Calling for Salah Sarsour’s Release From ICE Detention - U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore - May 26th, 2026
Read more about Arrest of Salah Sarsour here
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