In an unprecedented move, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) has reportedly shared an internal record concerning a Palestinian woman, Leqaa Kordia, with federal immigration authorities.
The Trump administration is now leveraging this information in its attempt to deport Kordia, according to court documents obtained by The Associated Press. The NYPD's report, shared in March, includes a summary of Kordia's arrest at a protest outside Columbia University last spring, her home address, and her date of birth. This act of sharing information with federal authorities has raised eyebrows, shedding light on the covert cooperation between the NYPD and the Trump administration.
As reported by The Associated Press, the incident has sparked questions about New York City's adherence to sanctuary laws, which generally prohibit police from aiding immigration enforcement efforts. Kordia, a 32-year-old New Jersey resident, was among the first individuals incarcerated under President Donald Trumps crackdown on noncitizens involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. She was apprehended during a voluntary check-in with immigration officials in Newark, New Jersey, on March 13, and subsequently transported to an immigration jail in Texas.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced Kordia's arrest the following day, citing an expired visa and her participation in "pro-Hamas protests." It remains a mystery how immigration authorities became aware of Kordia's attendance at the Columbia protest. Although Kordia was charged with disorderly conduct at the protest, the charge was later dismissed and the case sealed.
On March 14, an NYPD officer generated a four-page report on Kordia and shared it with Homeland Security Investigations, a division of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. In response to this, an NYPD spokesperson stated that the department "received a request from a federal agency related to a criminal investigation and shared relevant information in accordance with our sanctuary city policies." The spokesperson further clarified that the NYPD does not participate in programs designed for visa revocation or any civil immigration matter. However, the department refrained from revealing the nature of the investigation.
Legal experts and civil liberties advocates have expressed concern over the level of information-sharing between the city and the federal government. They argue that this blurs the line between criticism of Israel and support for Hamas, a U.S.-designated terror group. Meghna Philip, the director of special litigation at the Legal Aid Society, stated that the sanctuary laws are intended to protect against such collusion and pretextual information sharing. She added that this incident seems to be a clear violation of the law and raises questions about the NYPD's guidelines for sharing information with the federal government.
Kordia, who moved to New Jersey in 2016 with her American citizen mother, let her student visa expire, believing her application for permanent residency would allow her to stay in the country legally. Her case is unique in that she was not an outspoken activist and had not publicly criticized Israel. She maintained no social media presence and did not appear on any of the public lists maintained by pro-Israel groups that seek to identify people who participate in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Despite the Trump administration identifying her as a Columbia student, Kordia has never been affiliated with the university and was not enrolled in any college when she joined a protest in 2024 outside Columbia. Her attorneys stated that she was peacefully expressing her dissent against Israels military campaign in Gaza, which they claim has resulted in the death of over 100 of her relatives.
The NYPD has not disclosed when they were first approached by federal authorities or whether the March 14 report was the first time they had shared information about Kordia's arrest record. Kordia's attorneys claim that federal agents began interrogating members of her family and her neighbors in early March. They also subpoenaed records from her MoneyGram account and established a trace on her WhatsApp messaging account.
At an April 3rd hearing, the federal government pointed to Kordias prior arrest for protesting as a reason she should not be released. An immigration judge found no evidence she had acted violently at the protest and agreed to grant Kordia a $20,000 bond, which her family paid. The government has appealed that decision, keeping her detained for now.
In a petition seeking her release, attorneys for Kordia, a devout Muslim, said she had been denied halal meals since arriving at the jail. As a result, she has lost 49 pounds (22 kilograms) and fainted in the shower, according to facility records shared with her attorneys. Arthur Ago, her attorney, said, The only reason shes confined right now is because of her political viewpoint.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has criticized the citys sanctuary protections, while insisting his administration is meticulously following the law. When asked by the AP last month if the NYPD could turn over information to its federal law enforcement partners about a summons issued to a protester, the mayor insisted no such request was ever made. We have no record that this happened, Adams said. When I inquired, they said we did not turn over anything and we dont collaborate for civil enforcement. They said that over and over again. His office did not respond to inquiries Friday.
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