Federal Authorities Detain Leader of Wisconsin Mosque Over Concealed Conviction
Federal immigration officials have arrested the president of Wisconsin’s largest mosque, alleging he failed to disclose a prior conviction related to attacks on Israeli targets and lied on his entry application into the United States.
This week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) apprehended Salah Salem Sarsour, the leader of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, in a targeted operation coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
According to a statement from the DHS, Sarsour, a Jordanian national, was previously convicted in Israel for throwing Molotov cocktails at an Israeli military installation and for attempting to acquire weapons and ammunition. The agency claims he improperly obtained legal permanent resident status by not providing accurate information about his criminal history on immigration documents.
DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Biss stated, “Salah Salem Sarsour is a convicted terrorist who threw Molotov cocktails at Israeli military headquarters. This illegal alien from Jordan lied on his green card application to gain legal status in the United States.”
Reportedly, Sarsour became a green card holder under President Bill Clinton’s administration in 1998 after allegedly providing false information on his application.
ICE announced that it collaborated with the U.S. Marshals Service for the operation to apprehend Sarsour, who has served as the president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee for five years. The mosque has initiated a fundraising campaign to support him during this legal battle.
The fundraiser emphasizes that Sarsour is being targeted because of his Palestinian and Muslim identity and his advocacy for Palestinian rights. It states, “This fight over Mr. Salah is part of a larger trend of attacks on immigrants that undermine democratic norms and legal protections for all people. That’s why this fight is a fight for all of us.”
At a press conference attended by several supporters, chants for Sarsour’s release echoed throughout the venue. His attorney, Osman Atta, asserted that Sarsour was being targeted due to his stance against the Israeli army. The gathering also featured a diverse array of religious leaders, who praised Sarsour’s contributions to the community.
Rev. Paul D. Erickson, bishop of the Greater Milwaukee Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, remarked that this incident exemplifies how the current administration seeks to silence dissenting voices. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson called Sarsour’s detention “an outrageous act,” asserting that there is no substantial evidence against him and describing the situation as an example of immigration overreach.
Sarsour is currently held in an Indiana county jail, and his legal representative has filed a petition for his release.
