Judge Clears Way For Trump To Deport Islamic Leader Accused Of Aiding Hamas

A Chicago immigration judge, Jayme Salinardi, has decided the federal government can move ahead with deporting Salah Sarsour, who heads the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, Wisconsin's biggest mosque. The ruling, issued Wednesday, rests on national security grounds. Sarsour, a U.S. resident for more than three decades, plans to appeal, according to Daily Wire.

The Trump administration points to his teenage conviction in Israel over throwing Molotov cocktails at the homes of Israeli soldiers, and alleges he raised money for Hamas during the 1990s. Salinardi did not accept a separate prosecution argument that Sarsour lied on his immigration application, although the Department of Homeland Security maintains that deceit got him a green card under Bill Clinton. ICE detained him in March, and a federal judge ordered him freed in June, the Associated Press reports. He has led the mosque for five years and is also a director at American Muslims for Palestine, an organization under scrutiny for alleged Hamas ties and for backing intifada after the October 7, 2023 attack.

Sarsour called the decision "deeply disappointing" and vowed to keep fighting for free speech. His attorney, Patrick Taurel, asked that any removal be limited to Israel or the Palestinian territories. Born in Judea and Samaria, also called the West Bank, Sarsour was nonetheless listed for possible removal to Jordan, and Taurel argues he is being targeted for Palestinian advocacy, warning that "anyone can face the same fate."

Summarized by PolitiKool from Daily Wire’s reporting. Read the full story at Daily Wire →