US Court Allows Deportation of Islamic Leader Convicted of Terrorism in West Bank

A U.S. court has ruled that the U.S. government can deport Salah Sarsour, president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee and leader of the largest mosque in Wisconsin. Sarsour, who was born in the West Bank, was convicted of terrorism-related offenses in Israel in the late 1980s.

Sarsour was arrested in March by immigration authorities, and the Trump administration sought his deportation. The court's decision allows the government to proceed with the deportation, citing Sarsour as a threat to U.S. foreign policy. However, the administration's claim that Sarsour lied on his residency application was dismissed.

In 1988, Sarsour was imprisoned in Israel after admitting to throwing a firebomb and stones at IDF soldiers. He was subsequently convicted of attempting to possess weapons and ammunition. Sarsour denies these charges, with his lawyers asserting he was tortured into confessing. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1993 and has no criminal record there.

Sarsour stated the ruling was "very disappointing" but announced his intention to appeal, vowing to fight for his right to free speech and to remain in the U.S., where he has lived for over three decades. He told the Associated Press that returning to the West Bank would mean "the end of my life."

The legal action against Sarsour is part of a broader immigration crackdown by the Trump administration, which has intensified its policies and pursued the deportation of numerous undocumented immigrants, particularly those involved in anti-Israel activities.