Introduction to the Investigation
Police in New York City are investigating whether the department violated policy by sharing a report with federal immigration authorities that included internal records of a Palestinian woman’s arrest at a protest.
What to Know
- Police in New York City are investigating whether the department violated policy by sharing a report with federal immigration authorities that included internal records of a Palestinian woman’s arrest at a protest.
- The department probe follows reporting by The Associated Press on the cooperation between the NYPD and President Donald Trump’s administration, which is seeking to deport Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian resident of New Jersey, as part of its widening crackdown on noncitizens who participated in protests against the war in Gaza.
- The report shared by police with the federal government included Kordia’s name, address and birthday, as well as an NYPD officer’s two-sentence summary of her arrest for protesting outside Columbia University last spring.
Background of the Case
The department probe follows reporting by The Associated Press on the cooperation between the NYPD and President Donald Trump’s administration, which is seeking to deport Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian resident of New Jersey, as part of its widening crackdown on noncitizens who participated in protests against the war in Gaza.
Details of the Report
The report shared by police with the federal government included Kordia’s name, address and birthday, as well as an NYPD officer’s two-sentence summary of her arrest for protesting outside Columbia University last spring. That charge — a summons for disorderly conduct — was dismissed and the case sealed, meaning it should not have been accessible for law enforcement purposes, according to legal experts.
Investigation and Response
“How it is that summons information was provided that is associated with a sealed arrest is what we are looking into now,” the city’s police commissioner, Jessica Tisch, said Tuesday in response to the AP’s questions. “This is under internal investigation and review.”
Kordia, 32, was detained during a March 13 check-in with immigration officials in Newark, New Jersey, then sent to an immigration jail in Texas, where she remains. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced her arrest the following day, citing an expired visa and her role in “pro-Hamas protests.”
Use of the Report
The four-page NYPD report on Kordia was generated the same day and is now being used as evidence by the federal government in its bid to deport her. “We still don’t know how she became the focus of the Department of Homeland Security,” said Arthur Ago, an attorney for Kordia. “If they did get information from the NYPD about a sealed citation that was dismissed in the interest of justice, that would be highly disturbing.”
Legal Implications
Under city law, police are generally prohibited from assisting federal authorities in civil immigration enforcement, though there are exceptions for criminal investigation. Tisch said the department received a request from Homeland Security Investigations, a division of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as part of a criminal investigation into Kordia. “The member said they were seeking information on this person related to a money laundering investigation, and that is fairly standard for us, so the information was provided,” Tisch said. “That was all done according to procedure.”
Conclusion
The investigation into how the NYPD handled Leqaa Kordia’s case highlights the complex and often contentious relationship between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. As the city’s police commissioner has noted, the department is taking the matter seriously and is working to determine whether any policies were violated. The outcome of this investigation will likely have significant implications for how the NYPD interacts with federal authorities in the future, particularly in cases involving immigration enforcement.
FAQs
- What is the NYPD investigating?
The NYPD is investigating whether the department violated policy by sharing a report with federal immigration authorities that included internal records of a Palestinian woman’s arrest at a protest. - Who is Leqaa Kordia?
Leqaa Kordia is a 32-year-old Palestinian resident of New Jersey who was detained by immigration officials and is currently being held in an immigration jail in Texas. - What is the basis for the federal government’s attempt to deport Kordia?
The federal government is seeking to deport Kordia due to an expired visa and her role in “pro-Hamas protests.” - Is Kordia facing any criminal charges?
According to her attorney, Kordia is not aware of any investigation related to money laundering, and the federal government has not confirmed whether she is facing any criminal charges.
