A Texas judge ordered the release of Palestinian woman Leqaa Kordia, detained since March 2025, but her freedom hangs in balance due to a potential government stay.

Leqaa Kordia, a 33-year-old Palestinian woman detained since March 2025 at a Texas immigration facility, has been ordered released for the third time by an immigration judge, who set a $100,000 bond and found no flight risk. Despite the ruling, her release remains uncertain as the Department of Homeland Security may invoke an "automatic stay" to override the decision. Kordia, a former Columbia University student, claims she was detained in retaliation for protesting the Israeli war in Gaza and mistakenly surrendered her valid student visa while applying for permanent residency. Her health has deteriorated in custody, including a recent seizure and hospitalization, prompting widespread advocacy from human rights groups, lawmakers, and university communities. Her legal team argues the government’s repeated use of stays reflects unchecked executive power in immigration enforcement.