RNS Weekly Digest: Last pro-Palestinian protester detained in Trump's campus crackdowns is released by ICE

Last pro-Palestinian protestor detained in Trump's campus crackdowns is released by ICE

A Muslim woman who was the last pro-Palestinian protester still in immigration custody after the Trump administration’s 2025 campus crackdown walked free from a Texas detention center Monday (March 16).  Leqaa Kordia, a 33-year-old Palestinian woman who has lived in New Jersey for 10 years and had been in custody for a year, was detained last March after protesting near Columbia University against Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza, which killed nearly 200 of her family members.  “Alhamdullah (thank God) I am free, after a long hard year,” she told worshippers at the Valley Ranch Islamic Center in Irving, Texas, hours after her release. “It wasn’t easy in ICE’s dungeons.”   Religion & Politics Chavismo faces split among evangelical Christian political allies in Venezuela Episcopal priest accused of stealing baseball cards resigns as Pittsburgh cathedral dean Islamic schools, more parents sue over exclusion from voucher program Photos of the Week: Ramadan winds down, synagogue attack Shiite Muslims attend the annual Al-Quds Day rally to show the importance of Jerusalem to Muslims and in solidarity with Palestinian and Iranian people in Kano, Nigeria, Friday, March 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Sani Maikatanga) In Opinion Dwight Hopkins is not MAGA: On confusing a Black theologian's research with his beliefs Trump should have listened to the pope about clean energy. The Iran war shows why. Why 'Sinners' resonates with Jews And finally, After backlash, Vatican points to Olympic champion Lollobrigida as model of motherhood Italian Olympic speedskating champion Francesca Lollobrigida faced backlash for bringing her energetic 2-year-old son to interviews after her gold medal wins last month. But at the Vatican on Tuesday (March 17), officials held her up as a model of motherhood and elite sport. “Francesca’s choice is not an obvious one,” said Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, who heads the Vatican department for culture and education, during a press conference at the Vatican. “In her victory, we celebrate the victory of all men and women who say it is possible.” Lollobrigida learned she was pregnant with her son, Tommaso, soon after winning silver and bronze medals at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. While many said she would not be able to return to the ice, she continued training after her pregnancy and while breastfeeding as she prepared to compete in the 2026 Olympic Games in Milano Cortina. Support our responsible reporting on religion Forward this newsletter to a friend Make a tax-deductible donation to our nonprofit newsroom here Or mail us a check: Religion News Foundation PO Box 1808 Columbia, MO 65205 Email membership@religionnews.com with a news tip or a comment Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Copyright © 2026 RNS, All rights reserved.