Immigration Judge Rules Milwaukee Mosque Leader Salah Sarsour Is Deportable

Decision issued: September 29, 2026
Publicly reported: September 30, 2026
Procedural status: Immigration-court removability ruling. Salah Sarsour has not been deported. Further proceedings concerning his fear of torture and a planned appeal remain pending.

An immigration judge has ruled that Salah Sarsour, president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, is removable from the United States on foreign-policy grounds. Sarsour is a lawful permanent resident who has lived in the United States since 1993 and has no reported criminal record in this country.

Judge Jayme Salinardi relied in part on a memorandum from Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating that Sarsour’s continued presence could have adverse foreign-policy consequences. According to Sarsour’s attorney, the judge treated the secretary’s determination as presumptive and sufficient evidence under the immigration provision at issue.

Government’s position: The Department of Homeland Security says Sarsour’s convictions in Israel make him a national-security threat and says Rubio has reasonable grounds to believe his presence would harm U.S. foreign-policy interests. DHS also alleged that Sarsour lied to immigration authorities and falsely claimed citizenship to vote.

Ruling’s limits: The judge rejected the government’s allegation that Sarsour lied on his green-card application. Reporting also indicates the voting allegation was rejected. The decision finds him legally removable; it is not an immediate physical deportation order.

Sarsour’s response: Sarsour called the decision “deeply disappointing” and said he would continue fighting for his free-speech rights and to remain in the country. His attorneys argue that the government is targeting his Palestinian-rights advocacy and that Israeli convictions cited by DHS arose from coerced confessions. Those assertions remain disputed.

Next steps: His lawyers have said they will argue that removal could expose him to torture, seek protection under the Convention Against Torture and appeal if necessary. Counsel says he cannot be removed while an appeal is pending. His possible destination also remains contested because Jordan was listed even though his attorneys say he has no legal right to reside there.

Why it matters: The case tests the federal government’s use of a rarely invoked foreign-policy provision against a longtime permanent resident whose political advocacy is protected speech according to his defense. It also raises separate questions about national-security deference, immigration due process and protection from torture.

Sources: Associated Press | Wisconsin Public Radio | Additional case reporting