An immigration judge has ruled that Salah Sarsour, the leader of Wisconsin’s largest mosque, can be deported on national security grounds. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio referenced federal immigration law to justify the measure, stating that Sarsour’s presence in the United States could have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences.
Government attorneys highlighted Sarsour’s decades-old convictions in Israel, which included acts like throwing rocks at Israeli military personnel and attempting to procure weapons, portraying him as a national security threat. They also accused him of having been involved in a Molotov cocktail attack on Israeli Defense Forces personnel, though Sarsour’s lawyer countered this by asserting he was accused but never convicted.
Salam Sarsour, President of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, was released from an Indiana jail, where he had been held following his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. (Yaseen Najeeb via AP)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) endorsed Rubio’s stance, suggesting that Sarsour’s presence may yield adverse policy outcomes for the U.S., further alleging his engagement in terrorist activities or support of terrorist organizations. A 2001 FBI memo also recorded allegations from Sarsour’s brother about his involvement in fundraising for the Holy Land Foundation, which was shut down for terror ties related to Hamas.
Jewish Insider reported that Sarsour wrote a Facebook post seeking divine victory for Gaza, accompanied by language that could be interpreted as seeking punishment on those opposed to Gaza. Meanwhile, DHS stated that the arrest was part of a targeted operation in Milwaukee, aiming at a Jordanian suspect accused of funding terror organizations and falsifying immigration forms.
Under the Trump administration, those violating the law are purportedly held accountable, per DHS remarks. Sarsour, identified as a lawful permanent resident in court filings, contends that his deportation is politically motivated, particularly linked to his public stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. He claims to have been forcibly coerced into confession by Israeli officials.
Amid this backdrop, Sarsour’s legal representatives note his 30-year tenure in the U.S., questioning the delayed governmental response if he poses a genuine security threat. Sarsour committed to appealing the deportation verdict, declaring his intention to uphold free speech and remain in a country he has inhabited for decades.
His lawyers have yet to respond to requests for commentary on the matter.