2 months ago
The president of Wisconsin’s largest mosque was detained by national migration agents, drafting accusations from section officials and belief leaders that nan apprehension was motivated by his statements against Israel.
Salah Sarsour, a Palestinian-born ineligible imperishable resident of nan United States, was taken into custody by astir a twelve US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents connected Monday successful Milwaukee aft he near his home, according to nan Islamic Society of Milwaukee.
Supporters called for his contiguous merchandise connected Thursday and his attorneys said he was detained connected nan grounds that he is simply a overseas argumentation threat. His attorneys opportunity nan claims person nary merit.
Instead, they judge Sarsour, 53, was targeted for speaking retired against Israel and for a condemnation arsenic a insignificant by Israeli subject courts, which person faced scrutiny complete allegations of constricted owed process and precocious condemnation rates of Palestinians. Israel rejects those claims. The offenses included allegedly throwing rocks astatine Israeli officers, according to lawyer Munjed Ahmad.
“Our authorities should not beryllium doing nan bidding of a overseas government,” Ahmad said of Israel. “There’s nary mobility successful my mind is that this is to stifle nan sermon connected nan Palestinian narrative.”
Attorneys said Sarsour, calved successful nan Israeli-occupied West Bank, has nary criminal grounds successful nan US.
Sarsour’s attorneys person likened nan lawsuit to that of Mahmoud Khalil, a erstwhile Columbia University activistic who faces deportation because nan national authorities said he was a overseas argumentation threat.
An email connection near connected Thursday for ICE and nan Department of Homeland Security was not instantly returned.
Sarsour has been nan president of nan Islamic Society of Milwaukee, nan largest Islamic statement successful nan state, for 5 years. His attorneys opportunity he’s held a greenish paper for years and lived successful nan Milwaukee area. His woman and 4 big children are US citizens.
His apprehension prompted outcry from apical elected officials, including Milwaukee’s mayor, Cavalier Johnson, who called it “an outrage”.
“He is simply a ineligible imperishable resident. There is nary substantive grounds he has done thing wrong,” Johnson said successful a station connected X. “This is different illustration of overreach and harm from nan U.S. Immigration authorities.”
Sarsour is being held astatine region jailhouse extracurricular Indianapolis. His attorneys person revenge a petition seeking his release.
“He is fresh to conflict bony and nail to make judge that he’s not supplier done nan mud,” Ahmad said. “He wants to enactment successful this country.”
