wx2026-0403 POSTSHOW Leqaa-Kordia.mxf-audio

In this powerful post-show conversation, Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman speaks with Laka Kordia, a Palestinian activist recently released after over a year in ICE detention at the Prairieland facility in Texas. Kordia, who grew up under Israeli military occupation in the West Bank and has family in Gaza, recounts her arrest during a 2024 Columbia University protest and her subsequent detention following a voluntary immigration interview. She describes the inhumane conditions—poor nutrition, filthy water, and psychological trauma—drawing painful parallels between ICE detention and the systemic oppression she experienced in Palestine. Her time in jail triggered her first-ever seizure, and she was chained like an animal during medical treatment. Despite three court orders for her release, the government appealed, citing her advocacy for a ceasefire and Palestinian freedom as 'dangerous'—a move she calls a betrayal of American values. Kordia reflects on the overwhelming support she received from communities across the U.S., especially the Muslim community in Dallas, which helped sustain her. She shares stories of other detained Palestinians, including Noor Salman, a refugee with a green card arrested during a routine check-in, and an elderly woman who simply wanted to die among her family. The episode closes with a moving tribute from fellow detainee Mahmoud Khalil, who calls Kordia part of a lineage of Palestinian women whose resilience defines the struggle. Kordia emphasizes that her release is only the first step—her fight for freedom and justice continues.