NYPD Shared Palestinian Protester’s Info With ICE/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The NYPD shared arrest details of a Palestinian protester with ICE, now used in her deportation case, raising concerns about New York City’s sanctuary policies. Leqaa Kordia, arrested during a protest near Columbia University, is being held in immigration detention. Civil rights groups warn the case reflects alarming federal-local information-sharing under Trump’s immigration crackdown.
NYPD-ICE Deportation Case Quick Looks:
- NYPD shared internal report on protester Leqaa Kordia with ICE in March.
- Kordia, a Palestinian New Jersey resident, was arrested during a 2024 protest near Columbia University.
- Info was used by Trump administration to justify her deportation.
- NYPD says info was shared for criminal investigation, citing sanctuary law exceptions.
- Civil rights groups say this violates sanctuary policies protecting immigrants.
- Kordia’s visa had expired, but no criminal charges remained.
- Kordia is being held in Texas, lost 49 pounds in detention, and is denied halal meals.
- NYC Mayor Eric Adams initially denied such cooperation occurred, but later clarified.
Deep Look: NYPD Shared Info on Palestinian Protester With ICE, Now Central in Deportation Effort
NEW YORK (AP) – The New York Police Department (NYPD) quietly shared internal arrest records about a Palestinian woman, Leqaa Kordia, with federal immigration authorities — a disclosure now being used by the Trump administration as the foundation of a deportation case against her, according to court documents obtained by the Associated Press.
This behind-the-scenes exchange between city police and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) challenges New York City’s sanctuary city laws, which are designed to prevent police from aiding federal immigration enforcement.
Arrest and Aftermath
Kordia, a 32-year-old New Jersey resident, was arrested during a pro-Palestinian protest outside Columbia University in spring 2024. Although she was issued a summons for disorderly conduct, the charge was dismissed and her case sealed. Yet, federal immigration officials still obtained her personal details — including her home address and date of birth — through an NYPD report generated on March 14.
She was detained during a voluntary ICE check-in in Newark, New Jersey, on March 13, and transported to an immigration jail in Texas. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a statement the next day, citing her expired visa and involvement in “pro-Hamas protests” as reasons for her detention.
What the NYPD Shared
A four-page internal report created by an NYPD officer was shared with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a division of ICE. The report included a brief narrative of her arrest, along with her personal data.
“The NYPD received a request from a federal agency related to a criminal investigation and shared relevant information in accordance with our sanctuary city policies,” the department said in a statement.
They added that NYPD “does not participate in programs designed for visa revocation or civil immigration enforcement,” but did not specify the nature of the alleged criminal investigation.
Legal and Civil Rights Reactions
Civil liberties groups say the disclosure contradicts the spirit — and potentially the letter — of New York City’s sanctuary laws, which limit data-sharing unless a serious criminal case is underway.
“This appears to be a clear violation of the law,” said Meghna Philip, litigation director at the Legal Aid Society.
“It raises questions about what guardrails, if any, the NYPD has when sharing information with a federal government that is criminalizing speech.”
Who Is Leqaa Kordia?
Kordia was born in Jerusalem and moved to the U.S. in 2016 with her mother, an American citizen. She attended a language program but overstayed her visa, believing her green card application would keep her status legal, her attorneys say.
Despite the government labeling her a Columbia University student, she was never enrolled, nor was she an outspoken activist. She had no social media, had never published opinions on Israel, and her name did not appear on any protest tracking lists.
Surveillance and ICE Investigation
Court filings reveal that beginning in early March, ICE agents began surveilling her life — interrogating family, monitoring her WhatsApp messages, and subpoenaing MoneyGram financial records. The only evidence uncovered was a 2022 payment to a relative in Palestine, which her attorneys argue is protected by First Amendment rights.
Bond and Health Concerns
At an April 3 immigration hearing, the government cited her protest arrest as proof she posed a danger. The judge disagreed, finding no evidence of violence and granting her a $20,000 bond, paid by her family.
However, DHS appealed the decision, leaving Kordia in detention. Her attorneys report serious health issues — 49 pounds lost, fainting, and no access to halal meals in jail, contrary to her religious requirements.
“She’s being held not for any violent action, but for a political viewpoint,” said attorney Arthur Ago.
City Hall and the Mayor’s Office Respond
Mayor Eric Adams, who has previously expressed skepticism about sanctuary protections, said last month that NYPD couldn’t legally share information unless a criminal investigation was underway.
“We’re not allowed to collaborate for civil enforcement, period,” Adams stated in April.
Initially, he claimed “we have no record that this happened.” On Friday, his office walked back the statement, clarifying he was referring to a different case involving another protester.
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