Milwaukee Leaders Criticize ICEs Arrest of Palestinian Human Rights Advocate

Federal Agents Detain Islamic Society of Milwaukee President in Wisconsin

On March 30, Salah Sarsour, president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, was reportedly detained by 10 federal agents while driving. The incident has sparked a joint letter from ten Muslim civil rights groups condemning the arrest and expressing concerns about the targeting of Sarsour due to his Palestinian and Muslim background.

Sarsour, a lawful permanent resident with 32 years of residency in the US, was transferred to a detention facility in Illinois before being moved to Indiana. His family was left “scrambling to determine his whereabouts” after his arrest. The groups signing the letter noted that Sarsour’s detention reflects a trend seen under President Donald Trump, where immigrant activists and scholars have been targeted for deportation based on their pro-Palestinian solidarity.

The joint letter also highlighted the administration’s approach to pro-Palestinian activism, with Trump previously calling protesters “radical revolutionaries” and pledging to crack down on such movements. The groups have launched an online campaign for Sarsour’s legal defense, which has raised over $35,500 in donations by Thursday afternoon.

The incident has sparked condemnation from local officials, including two alderpersons who described the situation as a “nightmare”. State Senator Chris Larson noted that the federal government had yet to provide public reasons for Sarsour’s arrest. The incident is part of a broader trend of targeting immigrant activists and scholars under Trump’s administration.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Muslim Legal Fund of America, and US Council of Muslim Organizations are among the groups co-signing the letter. They have expressed concerns about the use of the US justice system to advance foreign interests, particularly in relation to Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Source: Al Jazeera