US can deport leader of large mosque over national security concerns, immigration judge rules

The U.S. can deport the leader of a large mosque in Wisconsin on the grounds that he is a threat to national security, an immigration judge ruled on Wednesday. 

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained Salah Sarsour, an outspoken supporter of Palestine, in March. Sarsour alleged the federal government was targeting him for speaking out against Israel and advocating for Palestinian rights. In June, a federal judge agreed and ordered Sarsour released, the Associated Press reported. 

Sasour was born in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and was imprisoned in Israel in 1988 after confessing to throwing a Molotov cocktail and stones at Israeli military personnel. He was also convicted in 1995 of attempting to possess weapons. 

He denies committing the crimes, and his attorneys allege he was tortured into confessing to them. 

Government attorneys argue that Sarsour's convictions in Israel, along with allegations he lied on his green card application, make him a threat to national security. 

Judge Jayme Salinardi, with the Chicago Immigration Court, ruled Wednesday that he is removable on foreign-policy grounds. Salinardi tossed out the government's claim that Sarsour lied to immigration authorities. 

Sarsour told the Associated Press that he found the ruling "deeply disappointing" and intends to appeal.