Wisconsin Mosque President Detained by Immigration Agents Amid Free Speech Concerns
The president of Wisconsin's largest mosque has been taken into custody by federal immigration agents, sparking immediate accusations from local officials and religious leaders that the arrest was politically motivated due to his outspoken criticism of Israel. Salah Sarsour, a 53-year-old Palestinian-born legal permanent resident of the United States, was detained on Monday in Milwaukee after nearly a dozen U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents surrounded his car as he left his home, according to the Islamic Society of Milwaukee.
Allegations of Political Targeting and Community Backlash
Supporters held a news conference on Thursday, calling for Sarsour's immediate release and chanting in solidarity. His attorneys argue that he was detained on grounds of being a foreign policy threat, a claim they describe as baseless and without merit. Instead, they believe Sarsour was targeted specifically for speaking out against Israel and for a conviction as a minor in Israeli military courts, which have faced scrutiny over allegations of limited due process and high conviction rates of Palestinians. Israel has rejected these claims, but the offenses reportedly included allegedly throwing rocks at Israeli officers, according to attorney Munjed Ahmad.
"Our government should not be doing the bidding of a foreign government," Ahmad stated, referring to Israel. "There is no question in my mind that this is an attempt to stifle discourse on the Palestinian narrative." Sarsour, born in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, has no criminal record in the U.S., where he has lived for over 30 years. His attorneys note that the U.S. government has been aware of his conviction in Israel since he arrived in the country in 1993.
Widespread Condemnation from Religious and Political Leaders
The arrest has prompted outcry from a diverse group of religious leaders and elected officials. At the news conference, Othman Atta, one of Sarsour's attorneys, told the crowd, "He was targeted because of one thing, because he dared stand up to the Israeli army. And he was not a U.S. citizen." Supporters recounted Sarsour's advocacy for those in need and shared stories of his childhood, including allegations of inhumane treatment while detained by Israelis.
Rev. Paul D. Erickson, bishop of the Greater Milwaukee Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, expressed concern, saying, "This appears to be just the latest example of how this administration seeks to silence opposition and intimidate those who speak and act differently." Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson called the detention "an outrage" in a post on X, adding, "He is a legal permanent resident. There is no substantive evidence he has done anything wrong. This is another example of overreach and harm from the U.S. immigration authorities."
Legal Battle and Comparisons to Similar Cases
Sarsour's attorneys have likened his case to that of Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student activist facing deportation after being labeled a foreign policy threat by the federal government. Sarsour, who has served as board president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee for five years, holds a green card and lives just outside Milwaukee with his wife and four adult children, all of whom are U.S. citizens.
Currently held at a county jail in Indiana, Sarsour's attorneys have filed a petition seeking his release. Ahmad emphasized, "He is ready to fight tooth and nail to make sure that he's not dragged through the mud. He wants to stay in this country." An email message left for ICE and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Thursday was not immediately returned, leaving many questions unanswered about the justification for the detention.
