Immigration and Customs Enforcement brokers have detained Salah Salem Sarsour, the 53-year-old president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s largest mosque. Federal authorities describe him as a convicted terrorist who allegedly falsified data on his inexperienced card utility upon coming into the USA greater than 30 years in the past.
Particulars of the Arrest
DHS performed a focused operation in Milwaukee on Monday, apprehending the Jordanian nationwide. Sarsour, a distinguished neighborhood chief and enterprise proprietor, entered the U.S. in 1993 as a conditional resident and obtained lawful everlasting standing in 1998. Officers keep he misrepresented details on his immigration paperwork, regardless of missing a U.S. felony report. DHS classifies him as a terrorist primarily based on prior actions abroad.
Appearing Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis acknowledged, “Salah Salem Sarsour is a terrorist convicted for throwing Molotov cocktails on the houses of Israeli armed forces. This unlawful alien from Jordan lied on his inexperienced card utility to realize authorized standing within the US.” She added, “Due to President Trump and ICE, this terrorist is out of American communities. This Administration will all the time put the security of the American folks FIRST and Make America Secure Once more.”
Alleged Ties to Hamas and Political Figures
Sarsour faces previous accusations of fundraising for the Holy Land Basis for Reduction and Growth, which federal brokers raided in 2001 for transferring $12 million to Hamas. An FBI memorandum from that yr highlighted the problem, resulting in convictions for 5 basis leaders. Sarsour was not charged in reference to the case.
He additionally hosted a marketing campaign occasion for Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib throughout her 2018 bid, which propelled her to Congress as one of many first two Muslim girls elected. Tlaib, a Detroit native of Palestinian descent, stays a vocal advocate for Palestinian causes and has confronted criticism for her positions on Israel.
Protection from Supporters and Neighborhood
Othman Atta, government director of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, defined that Sarsour was arrested as a teen within the West Financial institution. “The first allegations are relating again to when he was a teen within the West Financial institution,” Atta mentioned. “He had been arrested, and that is one thing that he talked about fairly a bit — how he was abused and tortured whereas in custody.” Atta famous Sarsour endured about two years in Israeli custody, with expenses introduced in Hebrew that he didn’t comprehend.
The Muslim Authorized Fund of America, representing Sarsour, asserts he has been a everlasting U.S. resident for over 32 years as a law-abiding Milwaukee enterprise proprietor. The group claims his detention stems from his Palestinian and Muslim heritage. “Salah’s story represents exactly the immigrant-refugee success story that ought to be celebrated, not demonized,” the fund acknowledged. Sarsour, who grew up within the occupied West Financial institution and has six U.S. citizen youngsters, was reportedly stopped by 10 ICE brokers whereas driving and transferred from a Chicago facility to 1 in Indiana.
The Islamic Society of Milwaukee deems the allegations baseless, stating Sarsour was detained as a minor by Israeli army forces, held with out expenses, and subjected to violent interrogation and torture in a army courtroom missing due course of requirements.
Neighborhood Response
The arrest has sparked outrage domestically, with a rally held Thursday in help of Sarsour’s launch. His son, Kareem Sarsour, addressed the group, calling his father “the individual you known as if you happen to had an issue.” Relations view the motion as focused resulting from his background.
