An immigration judge has ruled that the United States has legal grounds to deport Salah Sarsour, president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, allowing a case that began with his arrest in March to move into the removal phase.

The ruling came at a status hearing on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, in Chicago, where the deportation proceedings against Sarsour have been heard since July. The judge found that deportation can proceed and gave Sarsour's legal team 30 days to file an appeal.

Who is affected and what changes now

The decision shifts the case from the challenge phase, where the government's grounds for removal were contested, to the removal phase. Sarsour remains in the United States for now, and the 30-day appeal window is the next procedural step. If no appeal is filed, or an appeal fails, removal proceedings would advance toward actual deportation.

The government's allegations

Federal officials allege that Sarsour failed to disclose two convictions on his immigration paperwork. Much of the testimony in the proceedings has centered on his treatment during military detention in the West Bank. He was arrested there in 1989, at age 15, for throwing rocks and a Molotov cocktail at Israeli troops, and again in 1995 for allegedly attempting to assist Hamas.

His defense argues that the confessions in those cases were extracted through torture.

Homeland Security has also cited Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who stated that Sarsour's residency in the United States "presents an adverse consequence to U.S. foreign policy," specifically referencing his advocacy for Palestinian rights.

The arrest and detention

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Sarsour at his home in Franklin, Wisconsin, in March 2026. The arrest sparked an outcry in Milwaukee, particularly within the Muslim community. Rep. Gwen Moore and House Democrats urged his release while he was held by ICE.

"He was targeted for one thing. He dared to stand up to the Israeli government," Islamic Society Executive Director Othman Atta said at the time.

Sarsour spent nearly three months in federal detention in Indiana before a judge ordered his release in June 2026. Speaking after his release, he said, "Finally, I am back." Deportation hearings in Chicago began the following month.

What to watch

The immediate question is whether Sarsour's legal team files an appeal within the 30-day deadline set by the judge. The case sits at the intersection of two removal theories: alleged non-disclosure of past convictions on immigration paperwork and the foreign-policy rationale advanced through Secretary Rubio's statement. How the appeal addresses both grounds will determine whether the removal phase proceeds.

This report reflects the ruling announced September 30, 2026. Readers following similar immigration court matters should consult official court records and the Executive Office for Immigration Review for case-specific filings, as individual outcomes depend on case-specific facts not covered here.