LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A leading fundraiser for an Islamic charity allegedly linked to terrorists who has spent nearly two years in federal custody should be deported to Jordan, an appeals panel has ruled. The opinion released Tuesday by the Board of Immigration Appeals overturned a judge who blocked Abdel-Jabbar Hamdan's deportation last month on grounds that he would be tortured because of his alleged ties to Hamas. The judge also had recommended that Hamdan, of Buena Park, be released from custody.
"What has happened here is that the government just doesn't like his politics," said Hamdan's attorney, Stacey Tolchin. "That's why they're trying to deport him." | Since his "politics" include raising money for Hamas, yes, we are. |
Hamdan, 45, who founded a mosque in Anaheim, was arrested on immigration charges in July 2004 as federal authorities unsealed an indictment against the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development. The government alleged the Texas-based charity funneled millions of dollars to the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is listed as a terrorist organization. Hamdan was accused of having ties to terrorism but was never criminally charged. Instead, he was convicted of overstaying a student visa he got 27 years ago and ordered deported.
Virginia Kice, spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the government is "gratified by the (board's) decision." Hamdan's attorneys said they would appeal the board's ruling to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which is reviewing a separate petition for his release. He has been jailed for 21 months. |