Wisconsin Mosque President Detained by ICE

Federal immigration agents detained the president of Wisconsin’s largest mosque on Monday, prompting local leaders and religious figures to accuse authorities of targeting him for his criticism of Israel, according to the AP.

Salah Sarsour, 53, a Palestinian-born legal permanent resident of the United States, was surrounded by nearly a dozen US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers outside his Milwaukee home, according to the Islamic Society of Milwaukee. His attorneys and supporters are demanding his immediate release.

Lawyers say the government claims Sarsour is a foreign policy threat, a charge they argue is baseless. Instead, they contend he is being singled out because of his outspoken criticism of Israel and a conviction he received as a minor in Israeli military courts. Critics of these courts have raised concerns about limited due process and high conviction rates for Palestinians, though Israel disputes these allegations. According to attorney Munjed Ahmad, the conviction involved allegedly throwing rocks at Israeli soldiers. Ahmad said, “Our government should not be doing the bidding of a foreign government. This action is clearly intended to suppress the Palestinian narrative.”

Sarsour has lived in the US for more than 30 years and has no criminal record in the country. His attorneys noted that US authorities have been aware of his Israeli conviction since he arrived in 1993. He has served as board president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee for the past five years. Sarsour, who holds a green card, resides near Milwaukee with his wife and four adult children, all of whom are US citizens.

At a news conference Thursday, a large crowd of supporters called for his release, highlighting his long history of community advocacy and humanitarian work.

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