Wisconsin Mosque President Detained by ICE Amid Claims of Political Targeting
Salah Sarsour, the president of Wisconsin's largest mosque, was taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Monday in Milwaukee, sparking accusations of political retaliation from local officials and religious leaders. The Islamic Society of Milwaukee reported that nearly a dozen ICE agents detained Sarsour as he left his home, leading to immediate calls for his release by supporters on Thursday.
Legal Battle and Allegations of Foreign Influence
Attorneys for Sarsour, a 53-year-old Palestinian-born legal permanent resident, assert that he was detained on grounds of being a foreign policy threat, claims they deem meritless. Instead, they argue he was targeted for speaking out against Israel and for a minor conviction in Israeli military courts, which have faced criticism for limited due process and high conviction rates of Palestinians. Israel has rejected these allegations.
According to attorney Munjed Ahmad, the offenses from Sarsour's youth included allegedly throwing rocks at Israeli officers. Ahmad stated, "Our government should not be doing the bidding of a foreign government. There's no question in my mind that this is to stifle the discourse on the Palestinian narrative." Sarsour, born in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, has no criminal record in the US, his lawyers emphasized.
Outcry from Officials and Community
The arrest has prompted strong reactions from top elected officials, including Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, who called it "an outrage." In a post on social media, Johnson said, "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." Sarsour has been president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee for five years, holds a green card, and lives in the Milwaukee area with his wife and four adult children, all of whom are US citizens.
Comparisons to Other Cases and Legal Actions
Attorneys have likened Sarsour's case to that of Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University activist facing deportation over similar foreign policy threat allegations. Sarsour is currently held at a county jail outside Indianapolis, and his legal team has filed a petition seeking his release. Ahmad noted, "He is ready to fight tooth and nail to make sure that he's not drug through the mud. He wants to stay in this country." An email to ICE and the Department of Homeland Security seeking comment was not immediately returned.
