Milwaukee Islamic leader speaks after returning home from months-long federal detention
UPDATED: June 18, 2026, at 9:29 p.m.
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Sarsour was given a hero’s welcome upon his return to Milwaukee Thursday evening, June 18.
Several hundred people gathered at the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, where Sarsour serves as president.
Salah Sarsour
Many people cried openly as he embraced family, friends, and supporters for the first time in 80 days.
On Thursday, Kate Brady, one of Sarsour's attorneys told us their team was always confident in this detention case, claiming Sarsour's 1st Amendment rights were violated when he was detained.
Brady claims it was clearly retaliation for Sarsour’s criticism of the treatment of Palestinians.
Sarsour spoke briefly Thursday evening and said, "I am back to serve my community. Who I am so proud of."
He thanked supporters, including a local organization called Jewish Voices for Peace, which traveled to the Indiana detention center to demonstrate on his behalf.
Sarsour said he was home thanks to "A lot of support. And because of great people like you, and people of freedom, that stood with justice, that's why I'm back. I owe this to my community.”
Though freed, Sarsour’s immigration case is still pending.
The Department of Homeland Security claims Sarsour funded terror organizations and lied on immigration forms
After Sarsour’s release, DHS said in a statement:
"Sarsour is a terrorist convicted for throwing Molotov cocktails at the homes of Israeli armed forces and illegally attempting to possess weapons and ammunition. He first submitted an application for an immigrant visa at the American Consulate in Jerusalem, which was denied due to these convictions in Israel."
Sarsour did not take any questions Thursday evening and went inside to pray.
A full news conference is scheduled for Friday afternoon, where Sarsour and his attorneys will speak more about his immigration case.
Published: June 18, 2026, at 3:29 p.m.
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Today, June 18, a federal judge ordered the immediate release from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody Salah Sarsour, the president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee.
Back on March 30th, Sarsour was detained by immigration enforcement officers. The Department of Homeland Security said Sarsour was suspected of funding terror organizations and lying on immigration forms.
The arrest was met with outrage from local leaders including Milwaukee's Common Council, who called him a lawful, permanent resident of the U.S. since 1993.
Sarsour has been an outspoken supporter for Palestinian rights and is now fighting deportation.
In today's ruling, the judge rejected arguments that Sarsour is a flight risk if he is released.
ICE gave a statement about the order, restating that Sarsour is a "criminal illegal alien from Jordan, failed to disclose his criminal history on multiple immigration applications."
They also reiterated that Sarsour was convicted of "throwing Molotov cocktails at the homes of Israeli armed forces and illegally attempting to possess weapons and ammunition."
Going on to say that in 1993, he entered the U.S. under the Clinton administration as a conditional resident and that the allegedly lied on his application to become a green card holder in 1998.