A Palestinian woman who was detained during Gaza war protests at Columbia University has been released after a year in immigration detention in Texas, her lawyers say.
Leqaa Kordia, 33, was among more than 100 demonstrators arrested outside the New York City college's campus in April 2024, but she was released.
She was arrested again in March 2025 during a routine immigration check-in. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) alleged she had overstayed her student visa, which was terminated in 2022 for lack of attendance.
Federal officials also launched an investigation into funds she sent overseas, which she stated were intended for her family. She has not been charged with a crime.
I don't know what to say. I'm free! I'm free! Finally, after one year, Kordia told reporters after emerging from the detention centre near Dallas on Monday.
DHS has alleged Kordia provided financial support to individuals living in nations deemed hostile to the U.S. An immigration judge found overwhelming evidence of her truthfulness regarding the funds.
At her third bail hearing on Friday, the judge described the government's arguments against her release as disingenuous and ordered she be released on a $100,000 bail.
Last month, Kordia was hospitalized for three days after suffering a seizure while detained, where she reported inhumane conditions. She can now return to New Jersey as her legal case continues.
This incident highlights broader issues regarding the treatment of protesters under immigration laws and raises significant questions around free speech and advocacy.
