A U.S. immigration judge has ruled that Salah Sarsour, the leader of Wisconsin’s largest mosque and a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights, can be deported on national security grounds. The decision was announced Wednesday in Chicago amid a broader legal battle over Sarsour’s prolonged detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Sarsour was taken into custody by ICE officers in Milwaukee in March. Earlier in June, a federal judge ordered his release, citing substantial claims that the government’s actions were retaliatory, linked to his public criticism of Israel and support for Palestinian causes. Sarsour condemned the latest ruling as “deeply disappointing” and said he plans to appeal, emphasizing his intention to defend his right to free speech and remain in the United States, where he has lived since 1993.

Government attorneys argue that Sarsour’s past convictions in Israel pose a threat to U.S. national security. He was convicted in Israel in 1988 of throwing stones at military personnel during the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, as well as a 1995 conviction for attempting to possess weapons. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has also cited an alleged conviction for throwing a Molotov cocktail, which Sarsour’s legal team disputes, saying he was accused but not convicted and contends he was coerced into confessions under torture. Both the attorney representing Sarsour and a former Israeli defense lawyer testified that Sarsour was subjected to torture and denied due process by Israeli authorities. DHS has challenged these allegations.

Immigration Judge Jayme Salinardi found Sarsour removable based on foreign policy grounds but rejected the government’s claim that Sarsour lied on his green card application. Salinardi’s ruling leaned heavily on a June 2025 memo from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which invoked a rarely used immigration statute to designate Sarsour a foreign policy risk, similar to two other Palestinian rights activists previously targeted by the Trump administration’s deportation efforts. The judge accorded significant deference to Rubio’s findings and noted cooperation between U.S. authorities and Israel in the case.

Sarsour’s defense team has argued that deportation would place him in severe jeopardy. Born in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Sarsour claims returning to the region would be life-threatening. His attorney pointed out concerns about his potential removal to Jordan, a country where Sarsour has no residence rights, and which his legal team says is effectively a gateway for transfer to Israel. The judge declined to narrow the deportation destinations specifically, allowing the issue to be raised on appeal.

Sarsour has no criminal record in the United States. His attorneys also questioned why the government detained him only recently despite being aware of his Israeli convictions for decades. They emphasize his medical condition—Type 2 diabetes—and say his health deteriorated during detention, with insufficient monitoring of his blood sugar levels. Advocacy groups have reported similar health neglect in detention centers nationwide.

While Sarsour awaits the outcome of his appeal, the government cannot proceed with deportation until all legal remedies are exhausted. Judge Salinardi announced his retirement and transferred oversight of the case to Judge Craig Defoe. The case reflects broader tensions involving immigration enforcement, free speech, and U.S. foreign policy in relation to Israel and Palestinian rights activism.