DHS: Milwaukee Mosque Leader Lied on Green Card, Now Facing Removal

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested Salah Salem Sarsour, the president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee (ISM)—Wisconsin’s largest mosque—on Monday, March 30, 2026.

Agents in nearly a dozen vehicles surrounded Sarsour’s car after he left his home in Milwaukee and took him into custody in a targeted operation.

Sarsour, a 53-year-old Palestinian-born legal permanent resident who has lived in the United States since 1993, is currently detained at a federal facility in Clay County Jail, Brazil, Indiana.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) states that Sarsour lied on his green card application in the 1990s by failing to disclose a conviction in Israel from when he was a teenager in the West Bank.

DHS further alleges he was involved in attacks on Israelis and is suspected of funding terror organizations.

Officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, had previously identified Sarsour as a threat to U.S. foreign policy interests, particularly regarding combating antisemitism.

Sarsour has served as board president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee for five years and is described by supporters as a longtime community leader and pro-Palestinian activist.

He became a lawful permanent resident nearly three decades ago and claims he did not fully understand the Israeli charges, which were presented in Hebrew, and alleges he was tortured in custody as a teen.

DHS and ICE, working with the U.S. Marshals Service, defend the arrest as enforcement of immigration law against someone who concealed criminal history and poses a national security concern.

The action fits into the broader Trump administration’s crackdown on individuals with alleged ties to terrorism or who misrepresented themselves during the immigration process.

Left-leaning critics, including some local elected officials, Muslim advocacy groups, and clergy, claim the detention is politically motivated retaliation for Sarsour’s criticism of Israel and advocacy for Palestinians.

Supporters have rallied in Milwaukee, calling for his release and portraying him as a productive community member targeted for his First Amendment-protected speech.

The Muslim Legal Fund of America is representing Sarsour and argues the case raises serious questions about selective enforcement.

Conservative observers and administration officials counter that lawful permanent residents must comply with immigration rules, and concealing a foreign criminal conviction or engaging in terror-related activities disqualifies someone from remaining in the country.

Sarsour entered the U.S. in 1993, received his green card around 1998, and has lived here for over 32 years.

The Islamic Society of Milwaukee condemned the arrest, calling Sarsour a “beloved community leader” and stating he was pulled over without apparent cause.

This case echoes other recent immigration enforcement actions under the Trump administration targeting individuals with alleged regime or terror ties, including relatives of Iranian figures.

Removal proceedings against Sarsour are expected to move forward based on the alleged fraud and security concerns.

DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis emphasized that the U.S. will not allow individuals suspected of supporting terror to exploit the immigration system.