1. United States
2. Colo.
3. Letter

I write to urgently demand that you take immediate action to secure the release of Leqaa Kordia from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention. Ms. Kordia, a 33-year-old Palestinian woman who has lived in the United States and has strong family ties here, has now been held in ICE custody for nearly a year despite the fact that charges stemming from her 2024 peaceful protest activity were dismissed. While in detention at the Prairieland ICE facility in Texas, Ms. Kordia has endured deteriorating health, including a severe seizure that required hospitalization and prolonged periods during which her family was left uninformed of her location or condition. Federal immigration judges twice found she poses no threat and should be released on bond, yet the Department of Homeland Security has refused to comply. This ongoing detention — after peaceful protest, in the absence of any criminal conviction, and despite serious medical risk — is deeply unjust and inconsistent with American principles of due process, free speech, and human dignity. Accordingly, I request that you: 1. Publicly call for the immediate release of Leqaa Kordia from ICE custody, including pressure on DHS leadership to comply with judicial orders and grant bond. 2. Support or introduce oversight measures requiring transparency and adherence to due process in immigration detention, especially where protected speech is involved. 3. Ensure accountability for any misuse of immigration enforcement to retaliate against lawful protest activity. I expect to see decisive action on this urgent matter.