ICE detains president of Wisconsin's largest mosque

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News/AP

April 3, 2026, 10:58 AM EDT / Source: The Associated Press


The president of Wisconsin’s largest mosque was detained by federal immigration agents, drawing accusations Thursday from local officials and religious leaders that the arrest was motivated by his criticism of Israel.

Salah Sarsour, a Palestinian-born legal permanent resident of the United States, was taken into custody by nearly a dozen U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who surrounded his car on Monday in Milwaukee after he left his home, according to the Islamic Society of Milwaukee. Supporters called Thursday for his immediate release.

His attorneys said he was detained on the grounds that he is a foreign policy threat, a claim they say has no merit. Instead, they believe Sarsour, 53, was targeted for speaking out against Israel and for a conviction as a minor by Israeli military courts, which have faced scrutiny over allegations of limited due process and high conviction rates of Palestinians. Israel rejects those claims. The offenses included allegedly throwing rocks at Israeli officers, according to attorney Munjed Ahmad.

“Our government should not be doing the bidding of a foreign government,” Ahmad said of Israel. “There’s no question in my mind is that this is to stifle the discourse on the Palestinian narrative.” Attorneys said Sarsour, born in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, has no criminal record in the U.S., where he has lived for more than 30 years. They said the U.S. government has known about Sarsour’s conviction in Israel since he came to the U.S. in 1993.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ice-detains-president-wisconsins-largest-mosque-rcna266570

[MLWR]

1. The SCOTUS shot down the ban on conversion therapy on the basis of the free speech clause in the 1st Amendment.

I am not a fan of anti-semitism, but it seems to me that criticism of the Israeli government is protected speech.

[hlthe2b]

3. Please don't give any even the suggestion that conflating criticism of Netanyahu & Israeli

Last edited Fri Apr 3, 2026, 12:57 PM - Edit history (1)

government with antisemitism is okay. I know you don't believe it, but for some, just the repeating of that belief held by a few is enough to have them repeat it. And, yes, I have HAD it with that false conflation. Especially today, as it appears we may have more war dead, knowing that Netanyahu is manipulating Trump every bit as much as Putin currently. Not that it took much, I'd agree given Trump's utter ignorance and arrogance, but it is still part of the equation in his attacking Iran NOW.

[ShazzieB]

11. Thanks for this reminder.

Not a Jew here, so maybe I don't get a vote, but I know for a fact that my negative view of Netanyu and his policies is a totally separate thing from my lifelong respect of and support for the Jewish people and for the contined existence of the state of Israel. For a long time after the October 7 attack, I was afraid to express my opinion of Bibi for being accused of antisemitism, as I saw that happen to others.

I despise antisemitism as much as I despise white supremacy and all other forms of bigotry, and my opinion of Bibi Netanyahu is not much higher. Thank you for making it a little safer to voice the latter.

[hlthe2b]

12. Exactly...

[Buddyzbuddy]

15. I couldn't have said that better myself.

[hlthe2b]

2. "A LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENT"-- damn, they are really trying so hard to incite violence...

(and frankly, it is taking everything I have in me to not think it would be justified). May all have the restraint necessary to not give ICE the ammo for further injustice.

[Deuxcents]

4. It took "nearly a dozen agents" to apprehend this man? Show of force to intimidate or lack of training?

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

5. Yep, this shit's gonna blow up. Maybe they're still striking Reichstag matches.

[groundloop]

6. A "FOREIGN POLICY THREAT" !?!?!?!? What in the hell?

Our democracy is dead if shit like that is allowed to stand. tRump and his J6 goons need to disappear.

[TheRickles]

7. But he threw some rocks 40 years ago! (sarcasm/irony/disgust, just to be clear)

[Ford_Prefect]

8. It was done to suit AIPAC, Miller, and Netanyahu

It is one of many preludes to the coming election to intimidate not only Muslim Americans, but anyone who might defend their civil rights, or who might be identified as non-neo-Christian.

Those of us from main stream faiths are also under pressure to bow to the right wing Christian Nationalists. It does not help when the MSM treats the wing nut evangelicals as if they are the majority and dominant Christian faith.

[angrychair]

9. Just like a lot of places on the Internet

Speaking out against the blue and white flag people has been turned into a criminal act.

I try not to comment on anything anywhere in any way, that even mention them because people on the Internet don't like it when you say anything even slightly critical of the blue and white flag people.
I said that blue and white flag people should put troops on the ground like the US on a Instagram to find out my account has been suspended for 24 hours for that statement and yes, that was the whole message.

[dalton99a]

13. +1. A common occurrence

Don't touch the third rail on Israel

[Bengus81]

14. Owned by Zukafuck, has to kiss ass on the Fuhrer

[Wild blueberry]

10. Absolutely despicable

Congressional Dems: hold firm on NOT funding the disgusting ICE.
Thank you.