United States: Salah Sarsour threatened with expulsion for his pro-Palestinian commitment, according to his lawyers

An immigration judge has cleared the way for the deportation of Salah Sarsour, a Palestinian who has lived in the United States for more than thirty years. A lifelong resident, he presides over the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, the largest mosque in Wisconsin.

The American administration cites security and foreign policy reasons. His lawyers dispute these arguments. According to them, he is being targeted for his commitment to Palestinian rights.

Arrested in March by the immigration services, Salah Sarsour spent more than eighty days in detention. A federal judge ordered his release in June, finding that there was serious evidence that he had been arrested for his positions. The immigration judge also rejected the accusation that he lied on his application for a residency card. Originally from the occupied West Bank, Salah Sarsour says his life would be in danger if he were returned there.

He intends to appeal and cannot be deported until available remedies are exhausted. This case poses a simple question: can we defend the rights of Palestinians without risking having to leave the country where we have built our lives? Salah Sarsour’s journey and the doubts expressed by a federal judge deserve to be taken seriously. Supporting Palestine does not, in itself, make someone a threat. Freedom of expression must also protect those who criticize those in power.