Hasidic Rabbi Detained by ICE Over Pro-Palestinian Activism

Ovadia, an Israeli citizen and member of the anti-Zionist Satmar sect, has lived in New York’s Rockland County since 2022. Federal officials moved to strip his legal status following his participation in a 2023 protest in Ramapo, where an Israeli flag was removed from a town hall. While Ovadia pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct—receiving only a nominal fine—the Department of Homeland Security cited the incident as an 'adverse factor' justifying his deportation.

Attorneys for the rabbi, who is a father of five, have filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the government is weaponizing immigration law to punish protected political speech. They contend that by targeting a religious figure for his theological opposition to Zionism, the administration is effectively choosing one side of a Jewish internal debate. Eric Lee, one of Ovadia's lawyers, mocked the government's claim that the rabbi was 'harassing Jews,' noting the absurdity of accusing a Hasidic man of harassing his own community through his public activism.

This detention follows a broader executive order from President Donald Trump directing the targeting of noncitizens involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Despite federal courts previously striking down similar attempts to curb political expression, Ovadia remains behind bars after being denied bond. From the Metropolitan Detention Center, Ovadia maintains his stance, describing his work as a moral duty. 'Your struggle is our struggle and your liberation is our liberation,' he stated, vowing that supporters would continue to demonstrate from New York to London.