Accessibility links Skip to main content Keyboard shortcuts for audio player Open Navigation Menu --> Newsletters NPR Shop Close Navigation Menu Home News Expand/collapse submenu for News National World Politics Business Health Science Climate Race Culture Expand/collapse submenu for Culture Books Movies Television Pop Culture Food Art & Design Performing Arts Life Kit Gaming Music Expand/collapse submenu for Music Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions The Best Music of 2025 Podcasts & Shows Expand/collapse submenu for Podcasts & Shows Daily Morning Edition Weekend Edition Saturday Weekend Edition Sunday All Things Considered Up First Here & Now NPR Politics Podcast Featured Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! Fresh Air Wild Card with Rachel Martin It's Been a Minute Planet Money Get NPR+ More Podcasts & Shows Search Newsletters NPR Shop Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions The Best Music of 2025 About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics Leqaa Kordia is free now, after a year in ICE detention In her own words, we hear from a young Palestinian woman from Paterson, N.J., who was released from ICE detention in Texas. She had been held for over a year. National Leqaa Kordia is free now, after a year in ICE detention March 27, 20264:42 PM ET Heard on All Things Considered By Matt Ozug , William Troop Leqaa Kordia is free now, after a year in ICE detention Listen · 4:09 4:09 Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed "> <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5759744/nx-s1-9706625" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript In her own words, we hear from a young Palestinian woman from Paterson, N.J., who was released from ICE detention in Texas. She had been held for over a year. Sponsor Message
SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
Last week, Leqaa Kordia, a young Palestinian woman from Paterson, New Jersey, walked out of an ICE detention center in Texas after being held for more than a year.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
LEQAA KORDIA: I'm shaking, you guys. (Speaking Arabic). I'm coming home.
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
In 2024, Kordia was arrested while protesting outside Columbia University, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Kordia was let go after the protests, but the arrest put her on the government's radar.
DETROW: Kordia grew up in Israel-occupied West Bank and was applying for a green card through her mom, who's a U.S. citizen. The government charged her with overstaying her student visa and kept her detained, despite a judge twice ordering her release.
CHANG: Kordia's health began to deteriorate (ph), and she had her first ever seizure. Then at her third hearing, the judge set bond at $100,000.
DETROW: And this time, the government did not appeal. On March 16, Kordia was free to go home. In her first interview since her release, she spoke to "Radio Diaries" about the events of that day.
(SOUNDBITE OF PODCAST, "RADIO DIARIES")
KORDIA: (Speaking Arabic), everybody. This is Leqaa Kordia, and this is crazy. I'm actually holding a phone in my hand and recording. It was around 2, 2:30 when the guard called my name. She's like, Kordia. I was like, what, what do you want? And she goes, pack your stuff. This word is actually scary in the detention 'cause pack your stuff means either you're going to be deported or if you're going to be transferred to another detention. In my case, pack your stuff meant you're going to be free.
And before even leaving the dorm, like, the girls were clapping for me. I was crying happy tears. We were hugging each other. I can tell that they're hopeful again. But at the same time, like, I'm never going to feel free until they're all free. (Speaking Arabic).
The door finally opened, and I breathed the air of freedom for the first time after one hard, tough year. I saw the sky with nothing between me and the sky - no handcuffs, with no fences, with no guns. It was - I don't know. It was a moment that I would never forget.
I came here to my friend's house. I took the longest shower that I've ever taken in my whole life. I used all kind of shampoos that my friend have. And I looked at a real mirror. I cried a little bit. I keep reminding myself, like, yes, it's real, you're free, yes, you're free.
Anyway, tomorrow is going to be a long day. Early in the morning, I'm going to head back to New Jersey. (Speaking Arabic). I'm excited to be back home. So good night.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Well, this is it.
KORDIA: All right. This is it.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Home sweet home.
KORDIA: Oh, my God. Oh, my God (laughter).
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KORDIA: Oh, my God.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
DETROW: Leqaa Kordia flew back to New Jersey Saturday and was greeted by family, friends and a traditional Palestinian performance.
CHANG: Kordia's lawyers say her green card petition is still pending, and she remains at risk of deportation. Her lawyers and the judge say because Palestinians are considered stateless, if Kordia is deported, she could be sent to Israel.
DETROW: This story was produced by Nellie Gillis of "Radio Diaries," edited by Joe Richman, Deborah George and Ben Shapiro.
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UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTIST: (Singing in non-English language). Copyright © 2026 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Accuracy and availability of NPR transcripts may vary. Transcript text may be revised to correct errors or match updates to audio. Audio on npr.org may be edited after its original broadcast or publication. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record. Facebook Flipboard Email Read & Listen Home News Culture Music Podcasts & Shows Connect Newsletters Facebook Instagram Press Public Editor Corrections Transcripts Contact & Help About NPR Overview Diversity NPR Network Accessibility Ethics Finances Get Involved Support Public Radio Sponsor NPR NPR Careers NPR Shop NPR Extra Terms of Use Privacy Your Privacy Choices Text Only Sponsor Message Sponsor MessageBecome an NPR sponsor (function () { var loadPageJs = function () { (window.webpackJsonp=window.webpackJsonp||[]).push([[22],{1167:function(e,n,c){e.exports=c(323)},323:function(e,n,c){"use strict";c.p=NPR.serverVars.webpackPublicPath,Promise.all([c.e(1),c.e(2),c.e(3),c.e(4),c.e(84)]).then(function(e){c(3),c(1140),c(116),c(94),c(52),c(493),c(239),c(102),c(104),c(1141),c(143),c(1142),c(238),c(48),c(1143)}.bind(null,c)).catch(c.oe)}},[[1167,0]]]); }; if (document.readyState === 'complete') { loadPageJs(); } else { window.addEventListener('load', function load() { window.removeEventListener('load', load, false); loadPageJs(); }); } })();