The 33-year-old Columbia University protester had been held in an immigration detention center for over a year.
Published on 16 March 2026
Leka Kordia, a Palestinian woman who was detained in the United States after participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations in 2024, has been released after a year in detention.
The 33-year-old, who grew up in the occupied West Bank before moving to the US in 2016, has been held in a Texas state detention facility since March last year.
“I don’t know what to say. I’m free! I’m free! Finally, after a year,” a smiling Cordia told reporters after leaving the detention center on Monday.
An immigration judge ruled that Cordia was eligible to be released on bond three times. Immigration officials appealed the first two convictions but Cordia was released on $100,000 bond after government attorneys did not challenge the third.
After being released, Kordia said she was looking forward to going home and hugging her mother “so hard.” But he said he would fight on behalf of the people still in the detention centre
“There is a lot of injustice in this place,” he said. “There are a lot of people that shouldn’t be here in the first place.”
Kordia, who lost nearly 200 members of his family during Israel’s genocidal war against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, was one of several protesters targeted by immigration officials for participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University in 2024.
As of Monday, she was the only person targeted in connection with the demonstration who remained in immigration detention after the release of others, including Mahmoud Khalil and Mohsen Mahadavi.
Cordia, who was held at the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, was recently hospitalized for three days after suffering a seizure after fainting and hitting his head at the privately run detention facility.
At Friday’s hearing, Cordia’s attorneys argued that she had a neurological condition that worsened while in custody, putting her at high risk of seizures. He reiterated that he could be accompanied by a family member of a US citizen and would not pose a flight risk.
Immigration Judge Tara Naslow agreed.
“I’ve heard the evidence. I’ve seen thousands of pieces of evidence presented by the defendant, and very little of the evidence presented by the government,” Naslow said.
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