A federal judge orders the release of Salah Sarsour, president of Wisconsin’s largest mosque, from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody while his immigration case continues. Multiple outlets report that Judge James Patrick Hanlon ruled Sarsour has raised a “substantial” First Amendment free-speech claim after he was detained in March. The ruling centers on whether immigration officials detained him in retaliation for his public criticism and advocacy related to Palestinian rights, including criticism of Israel.
According to the reports, the judge found the free-speech and retaliation arguments strong enough to make continued detention likely unlawful. The order comes amid broader disputes over how Sarsour’s statements are characterized, with some officials reportedly framing him as a national security concern. The coverage also notes that the judge—appointed during President Donald Trump’s first term—issued the decision on Thursday. Sarsour’s release is intended to allow the immigration proceedings to move forward under the court’s order rather than immediately resolve the underlying immigration merits.
