On September 30th, 2026, an immigration court ruled that the Trump Administration can deport Salah Sarsour, a beloved community leader and longtime advocate for Palestinian rights. After already enduring 80 days in ICE detention under cruel and unjust conditions, Salah and his family are once again being forced to live with the fear that he could be torn away from the home he has known for over 30 years, his community, and the people he loves.

To be clear, this decision is NOT a removal order and does not mean that Salah can be re-detained. Salah and his attorneys will appeal this unjust decision, and we will continue fighting alongside them every step of the way. This fight is far from over, and we’re asking you to be part of it.

Despite four hearings where firsthand witnesses and experts laid out evidence that dismantled the government's baseless claims, the immigration judge ignored the evidence and deferred instead to Israeli sources.

The Trump Administration has been weaponizing the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) against Salah Sarsour, Mahmoud Khalil, Leqaa Kordia, and others who have advocated for Palestinian rights. Section 237(a)(4)(C) gives the Secretary of State broad authority to pursue deportation based on claims of “adverse foreign policy consequences,” allowing this Administration to target people over political speech and advocacy.

The Land of the Free Act would address this abuse by repealing Section 237(a)(4)(C) and removing the authority the Administration has invoked against activists under vague “foreign policy” justifications. Representatives Deborah Ross (D-NC) and Becca Balint (D-VT) lead H.R. 4959. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) lead S. 4800.

Salah’s case sets a dangerous precedent for anyone who dares to speak out against the Trump Administration’s agenda. His case cannot become a blueprint for using immigration law to punish political speech and silence dissent.

Stand with Salah and help defend our First Amendment rights from this Administration’s crackdown on speech it opposes. If Salah’s deportation is meant to send a warning to the rest of us, our response must clearly be that we will not be intimidated into silence. We will speak louder. Call and email your members of Congress/Senators, amplify Salah’s story and spread the word.