Salah Sarsour is a 53-year-old Palestinian-American who has called the United States home for over 32 years. He is the president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, Wisconsin's largest Islamic organization, and a respected community leader, father, and man of faith.

For three decades, Salah has been a pillar of his community, building bridges, serving his neighbors, and contributing to the fabric of American civic life. He has zero criminal record in the United States.

On March 30, 2026, more than 10 ICE agents descended on his home and detained him. He was transferred to the Clay County Justice Center in Brazil, Indiana. Far from his family, his community, and his legal team.

The government's case rests on shaky ground:

1. “He lied on his green card application”
DHS claims Salah failed to disclose prior convictions from Israel. But his defense team argues the US government was fully aware of his background when they admitted him in 1993. A US consular officer even visited him while he was detained in Palestine in 1995.

2. Israeli military court conviction at age 15
As a teenager during the First Intifada, Salah was convicted by an Israeli military court, courts that human rights organizations including Human Rights Watch and B'Tselem have condemned for lacking due process, using coerced confessions, and conducting proceedings in Hebrew that Palestinian minors cannot understand. Conviction rates exceed 99%.

3. “Foreign policy threat” designation
Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated Salah as a threat to US foreign policy interests months before his arrest. This is the same vague, constitutionally questionable mechanism used against Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil. Immigration attorneys call it “extremely uncommon” and a potential violation of First Amendment protections.

4. “Suspected of funding terror organizations”
DHS provided no public evidence to support this claim. Salah has never been criminally charged with any terrorism-related offense in 32 years in the United States.