Judge Jayme Salinardi’s June 2024 ruling held that Sarsour could be deported on foreign‑policy grounds, dismissing the allegation that he misrepresented his background on his green‑card application. The court noted that he had made a substantial claim that the Trump administration targeted him for speaking out against Israel.
Sarsour, 57, was born in the West Bank and spent nine months in Israeli prison in 1988 after an alleged Molotov‑cocktail attack; a 1995 conviction followed for possession of weapons. He maintains he was coerced into a confession under torture, and his attorneys argue the United States knew of the charges yet never asked him to disclose them.
His legal team will appeal, citing that deportation to the West Bank would expose him to torture or death and that the Department of Homeland Security failed to explain why he suddenly became a threat after 30 years of lawful residency. The case echoes a June 2025 memo by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that could target other Palestinian‑rights advocates.
Sarsour’s brother, Rashid, said the 57‑year‑old lost 30 pounds in ICE custody and that his brother’s testimony at the Israeli court highlighted physical abuse. The appeal will be heard by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in late 2024, where the outcome could set a precedent for free‑speech challengers facing deportation.