Democracy Now! Audio Freed from ICE Jail, Leqaa Kordia Likens Yearlong Detention to Israel's Treatment of Palestinians
Apr 3, 2026
Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian activist detained over a year in an ICE facility, speaks from firsthand experience of occupation and detention. She recounts life under checkpoints and echoes between Israeli prisons and U.S. jails. Listens to stories of medical neglect, community support, legal setbacks, and the risks activists face while planning continued resistance.
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Growing Up Under Occupation Shaped Her Activism
- Leqaa Kordia grew up under Israeli military occupation in the West Bank with checkpoints, settlements, arrests, and family separation.
- She describes classmates arrested as teens, years-long Gaza siege, and losing 200 relatives since 2023, motivating her activism.
Seizure in ICE Detention Linked to Jail Conditions
- In Prairieland ICE detention Leqaa experienced her first-ever seizure, diagnosed as caused by sleep deprivation, poor nutrition, and stress.
- She links jail conditions—horrible food, dirty water, and isolation—to traumatic memories of Palestinian detention practices.
ICE Methods Echo Israeli Occupation Practices
- Leqaa draws explicit parallels between ICE detention methods and Israeli tactics, noting prolonged holds without trial and transferring detainees.
- Those similarities triggered painful memories of Palestinian prisoners held for years without trials.