A US immigration judge issued a ruling on Wednesday determining that Salah Sarsour, a prominent Palestinian community leader and president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, is subject to deportation. The decision follows a period of legal scrutiny regarding Sarsour’s immigration status.

Following the ruling, Sarsour’s attorney, Patrick Taurel of the firm Grossman, Young, & Hammond, confirmed that the defense team intends to appeal the decision. While the immigration judge’s ruling clears a path for deportation proceedings, Sarsour is not currently in custody. According to reports, a separate federal judge’s order remains in effect, which currently prevents Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from re-detaining him.

Sources differ slightly in their framing of the ruling’s implications. Al Jazeera emphasizes the potential impact on free speech protections, noting that Sarsour’s legal team views the decision as a threat to these rights. Middle East Eye focuses more on the administrative context, highlighting Sarsour’s role as a community leader and his previous 81-day detention earlier this year. While both outlets acknowledge the ruling, they provide different levels of detail regarding the legal history of the case and the specific arguments being raised by the defense.