SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
Last week, Leqaa Kordia, a young Palestinian woman from Paterson, New Jersey, walked out of an ICE detention center in Texas after being held for more than a year.
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LEQAA KORDIA: I'm shaking, you guys. (Speaking Arabic). I'm coming home.
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
In 2024, Kordia was arrested while protesting outside Columbia University, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Kordia was let go after the protests, but the arrest put her on the government's radar.
DETROW: Kordia grew up in Israel-occupied West Bank and was applying for a green card through her mom, who's a U.S. citizen. The government charged her with overstaying her student visa and kept her detained, despite a judge twice ordering her release.
CHANG: Kordia's health began to deteriorate (ph), and she had her first ever seizure. Then at her third hearing, the judge set bond at $100,000.
DETROW: And this time, the government did not appeal. On March 16, Kordia was free to go home. In her first interview since her release, she spoke to "Radio Diaries" about the events of that day.
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KORDIA: (Speaking Arabic), everybody. This is Leqaa Kordia, and this is crazy. I'm actually holding a phone in my hand and recording. It was around 2, 2:30 when the guard called my name. She's like, Kordia. I was like, what, what do you want? And she goes, pack your stuff. This word is actually scary in the detention 'cause pack your stuff means either you're going to be deported or if you're going to be transferred to another detention. In my case, pack your stuff meant you're going to be free.
And before even leaving the dorm, like, the girls were clapping for me. I was crying happy tears. We were hugging each other. I can tell that they're hopeful again. But at the same time, like, I'm never going to feel free until they're all free. (Speaking Arabic).
The door finally opened, and I breathed the air of freedom for the first time after one hard, tough year. I saw the sky with nothing between me and the sky - no handcuffs, with no fences, with no guns. It was - I don't know. It was a moment that I would never forget.
I came here to my friend's house. I took the longest shower that I've ever taken in my whole life. I used all kind of shampoos that my friend have. And I looked at a real mirror. I cried a little bit. I keep reminding myself, like, yes, it's real, you're free, yes, you're free.
Anyway, tomorrow is going to be a long day. Early in the morning, I'm going to head back to New Jersey. (Speaking Arabic). I'm excited to be back home. So good night.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Well, this is it.
KORDIA: All right. This is it.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Home sweet home.
KORDIA: Oh, my God. Oh, my God (laughter).
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KORDIA: Oh, my God.
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DETROW: Leqaa Kordia flew back to New Jersey Saturday and was greeted by family, friends and a traditional Palestinian performance.
CHANG: Kordia's lawyers say her green card petition is still pending, and she remains at risk of deportation. Her lawyers and the judge say because Palestinians are considered stateless, if Kordia is deported, she could be sent to Israel.
DETROW: This story was produced by Nellie Gillis of "Radio Diaries," edited by Joe Richman, Deborah George and Ben Shapiro.
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UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTIST: (Singing in non-English language). Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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