NEW YORK (AP) — Growing up in the West Bank, Leqaa Kordia was separated from family in Gaza due to Israeli restrictions on movement. With relatives occasionally calling from Gaza, she cherished the laughter she heard from her cousins, unaware of the tragedy that would soon engulf her family.
Today, with many of those relatives killed in the war that has devastated Gaza, Kordia faces her own grim reality. Over 200 days since her arrest initiated by the Trump administration's crackdown on pro-Palestinian demonstrators, she feels powerless to advocate for her family from a Texas immigration detention center.
“Most days I feel helpless,” Kordia said, lamenting her inability to make a difference. Arrested during a protest outside Columbia University while not affiliated with any student group, Kordia’s case drew little public attention, even as other prominent activists gained their freedom.
In a federal court ruling, a judge found that the Trump administration unlawfully targeted protesters like Kordia, but her situation remains precarious as the government continues to pursue her detention. As her attorney Sarah Sherman-Stokes noted, the lack of evidence against Kordia only underscores the problematic nature of her continued custody.
Kordia, whose family ties to Gaza are cast as suspect by authorities, has been charged with no crimes. From a young age, she was thrust into the complexities of migration and identity; her mother became a U.S. citizen, offering Leqaa a chance at a different life. She came to America in 2016 on a visitor’s visa, but since losing her student status in 2022, her legal situation has become increasingly desperate.
With ties still strong, Kordia recounts conversations with her family in Gaza, now harrowing since they describe dire conditions: food insecurity and fear of bombings. In response, Kordia joined several protests advocating for peace and support for her loved ones. Despite being emotionally and physically estranged from her family, her affection translates into monetary support, a point that has drawn scrutiny from the government.
Arrested alongside 100 other protesters in April 2024, Kordia's charges were dropped quickly. However, her imprisonment reflects broader tensions surrounding immigration laws and the systemic targeting of activists. The government's efforts to portray her financial help to relatives as a potentially nefarious act reveal a clearly politicized response to her activism.
While Kordia dreams of a future centered on family, her current confinement prevents her from engaging fully with her community or following the developments of the war that continues to claim lives in Gaza. As she awaits potentially favorable court decisions, she holds onto hope: to reunite with her family, live peacefully in a new culture, and pursue dreams of sharing Palestinian heritage through a future café.
