Despite legal residency and a pending habeas petition, Salah Sarsour remains in ICE detention with dangerously inadequate medical care while being tormented by guards mocking his faith.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin (6/3/2026) — Over two months after his unlawful abduction by ICE, Palestinian American community leader Salah Sarsour remains in custody at Clay County Jail in Brazil, Indiana, hundreds of miles away from his family. His lawyers have now escalated their demand for his release with a letter to the federal court where his habeas request is pending, detailing Sarsour’s unmet medical needs, as well as denials of religious expression that constitute First Amendment violations. His family urges the federal judge to schedule a hearing and make a decision on his lawful release.
As a Type 2 diabetic, Sarsour requires daily monitoring of his blood sugar levels — if his blood glucose levels fall extremely low or peak beyond the normal range, he could face a life-threatening emergency like a diabetic coma due to medical negligence. Without proper care and medical intervention, Sarsour could experience vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, dizziness, confusion, loss of consciousness, and seizures. Recently, Sarsour has experienced a noticeable decline in his health while in detention, and he has lost 30 pounds since March. Most recently, he has developed severe abdominal pain.
Medical experts widely recognize that diabetes requires regular monitoring and management to prevent potentially serious complications and even death. Despite clearly defined medical protocols, Sarsour has been denied daily monitoring; instead, the Trump administration told his lawyers that they only check his blood sugar levels once a month.
His family and community continue to call for his release so that he may be reunited with his family. “My father has been a lawful resident of the United States for decades. It’s a moral stain on this country that he now sits in ICE detention, being denied medical care or even a hearing by a federal judge to address the legitimacy of his detention. My kids want their grandfather back, and I want my father back,” says Kareem Sarsour, Salah’s son.
His family and lawyers also call attention to the profoundly offensive and appalling response by US authorities regarding Sarsour’s Muslim faith. Guards at the facility refused to provide Sarsour with a prayer rug and Quran when he first made the request after arriving at the jail, and instead provided him with a copy of a book he could not read or understand that he believed was Hindu scripture. Sarsour only received a copy of his holy book after a visit from his attorney. Guards at the Clay County Jail mocked Sarsour for his faith, interrupted his prayers, and denied him a prayer rug—which are all violations of his First Amendment rights. Muslims at the jail are also denied congregation services on Friday, and instead are encouraged to join the church services held throughout the week for those of the Christian faith.
In response to requests for an adequate diet to stabilize his blood sugar levels, the government responded by letting Sarsour know that he could purchase BBQ pork rinds from the commissary, a food that would violate his religious beliefs and dietary restrictions.
Luna Droubi, an attorney for Salah Sarsour, adds: “The government’s blatant disregard of Salah Sarsour’s First Amendment rights should outrage everyone: He was targeted and taken because of his advocacy for Palestine, and, while imprisoned, he has been tormented by guards, suffered medical neglect, and has been denied basic religious rights. I am appalled by the callousness with which the Trump administration continues to treat Salah Sarsour and will continue to fight for his freedom.”
His attorneys, family, and community members are demanding that authorities provide immediate and comprehensive medical evaluation, regular monitoring of his condition, and all medically necessary treatment.
For more information on the case and continued advocacy, see here: freesalah.info/about
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About Salah: Salah Sarsour is a successful small business owner, community leader, father of six, and caretaker for his elderly mother. Salah Sarsour was arrested on March 30, 2026 because of his advocacy for Palestinian rights; he is one of many Palestinian Americans permanent residents who have been targeted by the Trump Administration for speaking out against the genocide of the Palestinian people. He is an active member of his community, serving as the elected volunteer President of the largest mosque in Wisconsin, the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, and on the board of American Muslims for Palestine, an educational organization focused on Palestinian human rights. On March 30th, he was surrounded by over 10 ICE vehicles and taken out of state to an ICE facility in Indiana.
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Salah Sarsour is represented by the ACLU of Illinois and Beldock Levine & Hoffman. His larger legal team includes the Muslim Legal Fund of America as co-counsel.