Texas Palestinian woman granted release order three times, still detained by ICE and may struggle to regain freedom.
Key Takeaways
- An immigration judge in Dallas ordered Leqaa Kordia, 33, released on a $100,000 bond for the third time, finding low flight risk.
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE have twice appealed earlier release orders and reportedly obtained stays that kept her detained.
- DHS alleges she sent funds to people in countries hostile to the U.S.; her lawyers say the transfers were humanitarian aid for displaced relatives.
- Kordia has been detained since March 13, 2025, on an alleged visa overstay (visa expired January 2022) and has faced health problems while in custody.
- Her release remains uncertain because the government may seek another appeal or stay to block the order.
Case background
Leqaa Kordia, a 33-year-old Palestinian woman detained in Texas, has been in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody since March 13, 2025 after DHS (Department of Homeland Security) accused her of overstaying a visa that DHS says expired in January 2022. At a Dallas hearing, Immigration Judge Tara Naselow-Nahas again ordered her release and set bond at $100,000. An immigration judge is a federal adjudicator who oversees removal (deportation) proceedings; bond is money paid to secure release pending those proceedings.
Government allegations and legal maneuvering
The government has twice appealed earlier release orders and, it has been reported that, obtained administrative stays that delayed her release — a process that can keep a person detained while an appeal is considered. DHS attorneys allege Kordia provided financial support to individuals in countries hostile to the United States; her attorneys counter that the transfers were humanitarian payments to relatives displaced by the Gaza war. These conflicting claims are central to the government's contention that she poses a flight or national-security risk. A DOJ lawyer in court argued that any amount of bond would be inadequate to guarantee her future appearances, though the government has not said whether it will immediately pursue a third appeal.
Human impact and what this means now
Kordia’s detention — now longer than that of other pro-Palestinian demonstrators held during the Trump administration, according to filings — has taken a toll on her health. Court records show she had an epileptic seizure in February and was hospitalized; she has alleged being shackled during transport, raising concerns about medical care and treatment in detention. For immigrants and counsel, this case underscores how DHS appeals and stays can extend detention even after an immigration judge grants release, and it highlights the particular risks for people with medical needs. For someone in removal proceedings now: a judge’s bond order can secure release, but the government can seek a stay or appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) or higher courts, meaning custody can continue until those motions are resolved.
Source: Original Article