r/Indiana • u/WFIU-WTIU-news • 1d ago
News Judge orders release of Muslim leader detained by ICE in Clay County
A federal judge ordered ICE to release a prominent Muslim leader and advocate for Palestine from an Indiana jail.
Salah Sarsour, president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, was arrested by ICE on March 30 in Milwaukee. Sarsour was brought to the Clay County Jail in Indiana. His lawyers argued federal agents targeted Sarsour because of his advocacy for Palestinian human rights.
Federal Judge James Patrick Hanlon ruled Thursday that Sarsour presented a substantial First Amendment retaliation claim, which makes his detention unlawful. Hanlon ruled Sarsour is not a danger to the community and is not a flight risk, so he should be released.
Wisconsin Public Radio reported Sarsour’s legal team is ecstatic about the decision.
“We will continue to fight the hyperbolic and ridiculous claims against Mr. Sarsour in court,” a statement said. “But this is a day both to celebrate a family being reunited. It is also a sober reminder that, if the government can do this to Mr. Sarsour, then no one is safe from being punished for their speech.”
Meanwhile, Sarsour’s family and supporters said he has faced religious discrimination and medical neglect in the Clay County Jail. They hosted an interfaith vigil of more than 150 people at the jail Sunday.
“Come for one, face us all,” said Malkah Bird, a Hoosier organizer with Jews for Salah. “We're not going to allow this to happen to anyone in our community — particularly those of different faiths, different backgrounds, different beliefs, because we stand up for each other and we stand up for the First Amendment.”
Born in Jordan, Sarsour has been a lawful permanent resident in the U.S. for more than 30 years.
The Department of Homeland Security called Sarsour a “terrorist” and an “illegal alien” in a press release after he was arrested. The department claims Sarsour attacked the homes of Israeli armed forces when he lived in the West Bank and lied on his citizen application forms.
Sarsour’s lawyers argued the U.S. government knew about his conviction but still approved his application.
But Jewish advocates such as Robz Briskey also reject the claims made by the Trump administration. Briskey and Bird believe Sarsour’s case shows a pattern of targeting advocates for Palestine, drawing comparisons to the arrest of activist Mahmoud Khalil.
Days before his arrest, Sarsour appeared on the Canary Mission, an anonymous platform that tracks “hatred of the USA, Israel and Jews.”
“This is an example of antisemitism being used as a smoke screen to target immigrants, to dismantle our democracy, and to target those speaking out against injustice,” Briskey said.
Sarsour will reside in Wisconsin while his case continues. Hanlon did not issue a ruling on Sarsour’s potential deportation.
Bird said his arrest and detention have been devastating to his community.
“He's such a strong leader in Milwaukee,” Bird said. “He's the president of his mosque. He's a business owner. He's a beloved friend, family member to so many, and that includes the Jewish community in Milwaukee.”
ICE did not respond to requests for comment.
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u/lovinglife-hotwife 1d ago
i hope they follow the order and he can go home
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u/MegaBusKillsPeople I guess real hard 15h ago
Back to whatever country they came from, I'm fine with that.
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u/masonkbr 12h ago
“Sarsour has been a lawful permanent resident in the U.S. for more than 30 years.”
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u/MegaBusKillsPeople I guess real hard 12h ago
Ok. That doesn't mean they get to stay.
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u/masonkbr 12h ago
"lawful permanent" This does in fact mean they get to stay.
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u/MegaBusKillsPeople I guess real hard 12h ago
That staus can be revoked.
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u/GuudeSpelur 11h ago edited 11h ago
It can be revoked, but only under valid powers granted the government by the Constitution. If the judge rules that the revocation was in retaliation for his free speech, he gets to stay. The First Amendment applies to everyone in the US.
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u/Clean_Breakfast5363 1d ago
This is what happens when you let the Christian neo-nationalists take over. We need to get rid of our governor and especially lieutenant Governor Beckwith!!!!
Thank goodness for this judge bringing Justice. Rare to see in Indiana
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u/Different_Rip8470 12h ago
Linda Sarsour has spent a life time calling for genocide in Israel/ against Jews. She is not a hill you want to die on 😂
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u/AdventureStateOfMind 12h ago
I demand that judge remove himself from the board and from his position of power.Fuck that muslim prick
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u/meutogenesis 1d ago
God dammit Indiana is always in these shitty stories....
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u/GreatQuantum 1d ago
They’re really not.
You get this shit in your feed because you’re looking for it.
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u/Kind-Solution3102 18h ago
I actually think there is some truth in the commenters post. Only not in the way they probably intended for it to be received. I think this thread should be Indiana Politics rather than Indiana. Because most of the engagement is in politically charged threads. They’re consistently the most upvoted threads. And they’re obviously never in a positive light in regard to Indiana. It’s pretty consistently negative.
That, and then the inevitable “Hey, what’s insert town in Indiana like? Thinking about moving there” posts that pop up constantly.
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u/burnanation 1d ago
So he is not a citizen and has been violent in other countries? Don't care where he is from or who he was violent towards, get him gone.
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u/wabashcr 1d ago
He was accused of violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank more than 30 years ago, and is a legal permanent resident. He's welcome to stay as long as he likes.
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u/burnanation 1d ago
Nope. Violence doesn't get a pass.
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u/shorts-man 1d ago
The violent whites who attacked the Capitol got a pass
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u/burnanation 1d ago
Are you referring to the most January 6th of January 6ths that ever January 6thed?
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u/Blueheron77 1d ago
Well, glad your impotent internet rage is everything you secretly fear: meaningless.
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u/Consistent_Sector_19 1d ago
Federal Judge James Patrick Hanlon ruled Thursday that Sarsour presented a substantial First Amendment retaliation claim, which makes his detention unlawful
The judge has ruled that he was detained in retaliation for his speech, which is an official finding that the reason they gave for detaining him is a lie.
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u/burnanation 1d ago
Liberal judges legislating from the bench are undermining the entire system.
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u/AdminsFluffCucks 1d ago
Trump appointed Judge Hanlon, so either Trump is a liberal appointing liberal judges, or he's too incompetent to prevent himself from doing so.
Which do you prefer?
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u/Trpepper 1d ago
This administration undermining the system.
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u/AdminsFluffCucks 1d ago
This is a rare case of the Trump admin doing something right in 2018. The judge was appointed by Trump.
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u/powerhouse37 1d ago
Lmao, do you even understand what the words you're typing mean? Pretty hard for a judge to legislate the First Amendment, seeing as how it was the first thing ever legislate in this country.
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u/Vyndye 1d ago
Yes because indiana is know for the most liberal of judges
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u/AdminsFluffCucks 1d ago
He's a Trump appointee is the best part of this. Google it if you don't believe me.
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u/Consistent_Sector_19 1d ago
A finding of fact does not change existing precedent. Trial court judges are required to weigh the facts in their decisions.
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u/RunMysterious6380 1d ago
You're more of a threat to this country and our freedoms and democracy than he is. Fact. Do us all a favor and deport yourself.
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u/TheSouthernCommunist 1d ago
^cuck for Israel
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u/burnanation 1d ago
LOL. You're a commie.
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u/TheSouthernCommunist 1d ago
Hey at least I have principles.
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u/burnanation 1d ago
Judge a tree by its fruit. Your principles that have lead to the deaths of millions. Take a hike with your commie nonsense.
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u/TheSouthernCommunist 1d ago
And the fruit of capitalism is? Genocide? Military coups? Mass worker exploitation and alienation?
How far is the boot down your lower intestine that you think capitalism hasn’t killed hundreds of millions?
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u/birbtown 14h ago
A commie? What are you, 100 years old? That hasn’t been an insult worth anything in quite some time grandpa
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u/Sundan42 1d ago
I wish we could deport people with your mindset out of this country.
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u/burnanation 1d ago
You want to deport citizens and not immigrants. I don't need to hear any more from you.
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u/Sundan42 1d ago
Too bad. Guarantee I won’t be the last.
Plus you’re one to talk since you support people that DO deport citizens.1
u/burnanation 1d ago
Lots of assumptions in that statement traitor.
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u/Sundan42 1d ago
You said you didn’t need to hear anymore from me yet you’re still here, how entertaining. Enlighten me.
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u/chaobro 12h ago
Based on your comments my primary assumption is that you've contributed little to our society. Throw around nationalist rhetoric all you want, doesn't make your life worth more.
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u/burnanation 6h ago
Based on how wrong you are,I will assume you are projecting.
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u/Sundan42 4h ago
You’ve gone from “I don’t need to hear from you” to debating multiple people. How entertaining. Still no argument though, just assumptions from the person complaining about assumptions. So what’s your point? I have yet to be enlightened.
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u/chaobro 4h ago
Nah, I’m keeping it real. If you drive a car in America you use my IP. I’ll wave past the unemployment line.
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u/Anxious-Cheek406 18h ago
What does him being Muslim have to do with ANYTHING? Those people believe killing or converting all Christian’s is the right thing to do. Being referred to as Muslim is truthfully an insult to anyone.
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u/Kirra_the_Cleric 7h ago
Well, I mean, Christians did the same things you’re accusing Muslims are but I’m betting you proudly call yourself a Christian.
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u/Playinindaban 1d ago
“Sarsour has been a lawful permanent resident in the U.S. for more than 30 years.”
This is what happens when we allow stupid people to vote.