The Release of Leqaa Kordia and Its Echoes on College Campuses

On March 16, 2026, Leqaa Kordia, a 33-year-old Palestinian woman from the West Bank who has resided in New Jersey since 2016, walked free from the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, after more than a year in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. Her release on a $100,000 bond marked the end of the last known immigration detention stemming from the Trump administration's aggressive 2025 crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism linked to campus protests. Though Kordia herself was not a student, her arrest was tied to a demonstration outside Columbia University in 2024, highlighting how such actions reverberated through higher education institutions across the United States.

This event closes a contentious chapter in American higher education, where protests over the Israel-Gaza conflict intersected with immigration enforcement, free speech debates, and university governance. Colleges and universities, home to over one million international students, faced unprecedented scrutiny, visa revocations, and policy shifts that reshaped campus activism.

Background: Kordia's Path from Protest to Prolonged Detention

Leqaa Kordia's journey began amid personal tragedy. In 2024, following the deaths of numerous relatives in Gaza due to Israeli military actions, she joined approximately 100 demonstrators protesting outside Columbia University's gates in New York City. Local police arrested participants, including Kordia, but charges were dismissed and records sealed. Undeterred, she continued advocating for Palestinian rights through street protests and financial support to family members in the region.

On March 13, 2025, during a routine ICE check-in in New Jersey for her visa status, authorities detained her. Federal officials cited an overstay on her visa and scrutinized wire transfers to the Middle East, alleging they supported individuals in "nations hostile to the U.S." despite an immigration judge later finding overwhelming evidence that the funds were humanitarian aid for her family. Transferred to the privately operated Prairieland facility, Kordia's health deteriorated; she suffered a seizure, was hospitalized for three days, and her pre-existing neurological condition worsened in custody.

Legal Battles and the Third Bond Ruling

Kordia's attorneys fought relentlessly. An immigration judge ordered her release on bond three times—each instance met with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appeals on the first two occasions. The pivotal third hearing before Judge Tara Naslow featured thousands of pages of evidence from Kordia's side, contrasted with minimal government documentation. Judge Naslow noted the disparity, ruling Kordia posed no flight risk as she could reside with U.S. citizen family members.

The DHS opposed but declined to appeal, allowing her freedom. Upon release, Kordia exclaimed, "I'm free! Finally, after one year," expressing eagerness to reunite with her mother while decrying injustices in the system. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani celebrated the outcome, crediting discussions with President Trump for influencing the decision.

The Trump Administration's Crackdown: Targeting Campus Dissent

The 2025 crackdown represented a strategic use of immigration tools against non-citizen participants in pro-Palestinian campus activities. Sparked by widespread 2024 encampments and demonstrations at universities like Columbia, Harvard, and Tufts, the administration invoked executive orders combating antisemitism, visa reviews under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and threats to federal funding for institutions tolerating "illegal protests."

Mechanisms included revoking over 300 student visas, detaining scholars, and pressuring universities to dismantle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. Policies mirrored Project Esther blueprints, aiming to curb activism deemed supportive of Hamas or hostile entities. This extended beyond arrests—over 5,000 protesters faced university discipline or police action in 2024 alone.

Other Detainees: Student Cases at Columbia and Beyond

Kordia was the final holdout, but others preceded her:

• Mahmoud Khalil, Columbia graduate student: Detained three months in Louisiana before release.
• Rümeysa Öztürk, Tufts University doctoral candidate: Held six weeks after co-authoring an op-ed critiquing university Gaza responses.
• An unnamed Columbia PhD student fled after visa revocation and ICE visits to her campus housing.

These cases at elite institutions underscored vulnerabilities for international graduate students, who comprise 40% of U.S. doctoral enrollment in fields like engineering and sciences.

Photo by Nabih E. Navarro on Unsplash

Chilling Effects on Free Speech and Campus Culture

University campuses, bastions of debate, experienced a profound chill. International students, fearing deportation, self-censored on Gaza issues. A 2026 Inside Higher Ed survey revealed 62% of non-citizen students altered protest participation post-crackdown. Faculty reported heightened caution in curricula, with some adapting amid DEI bans and funding threats.

At Columbia, post-2024 encampments led to class suspensions and police interventions, eroding trust. Broader surveys showed 25% enrollment dips in Middle Eastern studies programs. Free speech advocates argue this silences legitimate discourse, while proponents cite national security.Inside Higher Ed analysis details student pushback efforts.

University Responses: Policy Shifts and Compliance

Institutions navigated dual pressures. Columbia enhanced protest guidelines, requiring permits and limiting encampments. Harvard faced federal contract cuts for insufficient activism curbs. Many adopted clearer speech codes, balancing First Amendment rights with Title VI antisemitism compliance.

Administrators like those at Tufts defended detainees publicly, fostering legal aid funds. A table of responses:

Statistics: Protests, Arrests, and Demographic Shifts

Nationwide, 2024 saw 3,000+ protest-related arrests at 100+ campuses. Immigration actions targeted ~20 high-profile non-citizens, but ripple effects hit broader demographics. International enrollment, vital at 5.6% of total U.S. higher ed (1.1 million students), stagnated in 2026 per IIE Open Doors report, with Middle East/North Africa origins down 15%.NPR coverage contextualizes Kordia's case within this landscape.

• Visa revocations: 300+ linked to activism (State Dept. 2025).
• Intl grad students affected: 10,000+ self-reported caution (AAUP 2026).
• Funding cuts threatened: 60 colleges warned (Ed Dept. 2025).

Stakeholder Perspectives: Faculty, Students, and Policymakers

Faculty unions like AAUP condemned the crackdown as an assault on academic freedom. Student groups pivoted to legal advocacy, organizing amicus briefs. Policymakers split: Trump allies praised enforcement; Democrats like Mamdani pushed releases. Universities positioned as neutral arbiters, investing in training on protest management.

Experts note long-term shifts: reduced activism could stifle innovation in social sciences, where diverse viewpoints fuel research.

Implications for Higher Education Careers and Hiring

The political climate exacerbated 2026 hiring slowdowns. Administrators face scrutiny over protest handling, impacting executive searches. Faculty in contentious fields report stalled tenure tracks. International scholars hesitate on U.S. postdocs amid visa fears, per AcademicJobs.com trends.

Photo by DJ Paine on Unsplash

Future Outlook: A Cautious Return to Campus Discourse?

With Kordia's release, attention shifts to enduring legacies: fortified university policies, ongoing litigation, and evolving activism. Courts have limited retaliatory deportations, signaling checks on executive overreach. Yet, as 2026 spring semesters unfold, campuses brace for renewed tensions amid global events. Solutions include transparent visa processes and dialogue forums to restore vibrancy without chaos.U.S. News tracking predicts moderated activism.