The report says Sarsour is a legal permanent resident who has lived in the United States for more than three decades. He reportedly leads the Islamic Society of Milwaukee and advocates for Palestinian rights.
According to the letter, he was detained by immigration officers and is being held at the Clay County Jail in Indiana. The rabbis argue that the case reflects wider concerns about due process and the use of immigration enforcement in politically sensitive cases.
Their intervention is notable because it comes from Jewish religious leaders who say opposition to antisemitism must not be used to justify actions that undermine constitutional protections or target Muslim communities.
The letter alleges that Sarsour’s health has deteriorated in custody. Lawyers reportedly told the authors that he has lost significant weight and suffered abdominal pain while struggling to receive appropriate diabetes monitoring and suitable food.
The report also describes alleged restrictions on his religious practice. Sarsour was reportedly denied immediate access to a prayer rug and Quran, while staff allegedly offered food he could not consume as a practising Muslim. The letter further claims that he faced interruptions and mockery while praying.
These are serious allegations, and the call for his release places pressure on officials to clarify his medical care, legal status and detention conditions.
The immediate focus will be whether immigration authorities respond to the rabbis’ appeal and whether lawyers can secure Sarsour’s release or a formal review of his detention. Further scrutiny is also likely to centre on the treatment of religious minorities and medically vulnerable detainees in immigration custody.