In a significant development with potential implications for New York City’s sanctuary policies, the local police department provided federal immigration officials with a detailed internal record concerning a Palestinian woman arrested at a protest. This information is currently being used by the Trump administration in its efforts to deport her, as revealed by court documents.
The incident highlights the intricate relationship between local law enforcement and federal immigration directives, raising inquiries about the city’s adherence to its own sanctuary regulations, which restrict police collaboration in immigration enforcement.
The individual at the center of this case, Leqaa Kordia, aged 32 and a New Jersey resident, was apprehended during a demonstration outside Columbia University, and the NYPD report subsequently detailed her personal information, including her address and birth date, along with a brief account of her arrest by an officer.
This disclosure to federal immigration authorities presents a rare view into the cooperation between the NYPD and federal entities during the Trump administration, sparking debates about whether City laws aimed at limiting such cooperation were breached.
Kordia became one of the early targets in the Trump administration’s intensified measures against noncitizens who took part in pro-Palestinian protests. Initially detained during a scheduled meeting with immigration officers in Newark, New Jersey, she was then transported to a detention center in Texas. Her capture was publicized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, citing her expired visa and alleged involvement in supporting protests linked to pro-Hamas sentiment.
It remains unclear how immigration officials received information about Kordia’s participation in the Columbia protest, where she was charged with disorderly conduct—a charge that was later dismissed and sealed by the courts.
Under city regulations, police are generally prohibited from sharing arrest information with federal immigration officers, with exceptions for criminal investigations. However, on March 14, an NYPD officer compiled a comprehensive report on Kordia and forwarded it to Homeland Security Investigations, a division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The NYPD stated that they responded to a federal request linked to a criminal investigation, and complied with sanctuary city policies. They emphasized non-participation in visa revocation programs or civil immigration matters. Despite multiple inquiries, no detailed responses were received from DHS or ICE.
Legal experts criticized the incident as a grave breach of privacy protections, noting that it could undermine the sanctuary city laws designed to shield individuals from such collaborations. Meghna Philip from the Legal Aid Society called it a potential violation of law, underlining concerns about information sharing without proper safeguards.
Kordia, who has lived in the United States since 2016, is described as a low-profile figure, lacking any social media history critical of Israel, contrary to the claims made against her. Although initially identified as a Columbia University student, Kordia had no official ties to the institution and was merely exercising her right to protest.
The case took a broader turn as federal agents interrogated her relatives and neighbors, further probing her financial transactions, which revealed a single monetary gift to a Palestinian relative.
In court hearings, the federal government, citing her protest arrest, recommended her continued detention. However, an immigration judge allowed Kordia’s release on bond, citing insufficient evidence of any violent conduct, despite the current refusal to release her as the government appeals.
During this time, her attorneys have petitioned for her release, citing deplorable conditions, including a lack of appropriate meals due to her religious beliefs, which has severely affected her health.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has expressed his disapproval of compromising sanctuary protections yet insisted on their rigorous enforcement. Adams clarified that cooperation with ICE is restricted to criminal investigations alone, a stance he reiterated amid misunderstandings concerning another case involving noncitizens and protest-related arrests.