NEW YORK — Growing up in the West Bank, Leqaa Kordia was separated from family in Gaza by Israeli restrictions. Calls from family members alllowed her to share laughs and moments with her cousins, but conflict has now taken many of them forever.
In the wake of the ongoing war, Kordia finds herself in a Texas immigration detention center, grappling with a sense of helplessness. She expressed her frustration, stating, “Most days I feel helpless... I can’t do anything.” Kordia has been detained since March 2024 after being swept up in a crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests orchestrated by the Trump administration.
As one of the few detainees from these protests still incarcerated, Kordia’s case has largely remained out of the public spotlight, as other prominent activists have gained their release. Her story is underscored by her deep personal ties to Gaza, where over 170 of her relatives were killed in the ongoing conflict.
“We are hungry. ... We are scared. ... We don’t have anywhere to go,” Kordia recalls her family expressing during calls. Seeking to help, she joined protests in New York and D.C., but her activism led to her arrest during a demonstration at Columbia University.
Her legal battle continues amidst accusations from the government, which has misconstrued her support for her family in Gaza as potential ties to terrorism. “To hear the government accusing them of being terrorists... this is heartbreaking,” Kordia said. Her detention challenges immigration norms, with legal experts noting the unprecedented nature of the government's actions against her and others.
Kordia dreams of a peaceful life, yearning to be reunited with her mother and continue her aspirations of sharing Palestinian culture. “That’s all I wanted, to live with my family in peace in a land that appreciates freedom,” she said. Her story calls for attention to the struggles faced by many like her, caught between political conflicts and immigration policies.
