CAIR Calls on Members of Congress to Stand With Freed Political Prisoner Salah Sarsour, Condemn Latest Attempt at Deportation

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on members of Congress to express support for freed political prisoner Salah Sarsour after an immigration judge ruled that he the government can deport him. 

An immigration judge ruled on September 30 that the government can deport Salah Sarsour, an activist and leader of Wisconsin’s largest mosque and an outspoken advocate of Palestinian rights, on foreign policy grounds while dismissing false claims leveled against him. Sarsour, who was recently released from illegal ICE detention, and his legal team intend to fight the deportation in federal court, which is considering his constitutional free speech claims. 

SEE: Salah Sarsour vows to appeal ruling after judge says he can be deported on foreign-policy grounds | Milwaukee Independent 

In a statement, CAIR said:

“Salah Sarsour is a beloved leader of the Wisconsin community, as well as a vocal advocate for interfaith collaboration and justice for all people. Mr. Sarsour is guilty of nothing other than speaking out for the rights of the Palestinian people and in favor of a foreign policy that places American interests first. Deporting him for his speech would violate the Constitution and turning him over to the same Israeli government that tortured him in his youth would endanger his life, especially given that most Israeli prisons are now controlled by convicted terrorist Itamar Ben-Gvir. All political leaders who value the First Amendment must speak out against this targeting of Salah Sarsour and others targeted for daring to express support for Palestinian human rights.”

CAIR previously welcomed the federal ruling freeing Mr. Sarsour from ICE detention. 

SEE: CAIR Welcomes Order for ‘Long-Overdue’ Release of Salah Sarsour from ICE Detention    

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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]