Houston Immigration Judge Orders Removal of Beloved Dallas Community Leader, Despite Medical Woes and False Allegations
A Houston immigration judge on Thursday ordered the removal of Marwan Marouf, a prominent Muslim community leader from Dallas, to Jordan, where he has citizenship. The decision came after 30 minutes of deliberation and marked the 60th day of his detention at the Bluebonnet Detention Center.
Marouf's case was heavily scrutinized due to allegations that he had engaged in terrorist activity while volunteering for the Holy Land Foundation, a Muslim nonprofit organization in the 1990s. However, his lawyers and family members vehemently deny these claims, stating that they are false.
Despite the government's charges, Judge Abdias E. Tida was sympathetic to Marouf's health concerns, citing multiple life-threatening medical conditions, including Brugada syndrome, a serious heart condition marked by irregular rhythm. The judge ultimately ruled that Marouf did not merit voluntary departure, citing his alleged involvement in terrorist activity as the reason for the denial.
The decision has sparked widespread criticism and outrage among community leaders and advocates, who argue that it is a "stain on our legal and moral fabric." Noor Wadi, a close friend of Marouf's and co-leader of the Justice for Marwan campaign, stated that the case was "winnable" and that Marouf had always complied with immigration law.
The community has rallied around Marouf, with many calling for his release and denouncing the government's actions as unjust. The Justice for Marwan campaign has renewed its commitment to fighting for his release and other community members facing similar deportation threats.
Marouf's removal is seen as a cautionary tale about the dangers of immigration enforcement under Trump-era policies, which have disproportionately targeted Muslim communities and marginalized groups. As Noor Wadi put it, "We will not allow the state to erase their stories."
A Houston immigration judge on Thursday ordered the removal of Marwan Marouf, a prominent Muslim community leader from Dallas, to Jordan, where he has citizenship. The decision came after 30 minutes of deliberation and marked the 60th day of his detention at the Bluebonnet Detention Center.
Marouf's case was heavily scrutinized due to allegations that he had engaged in terrorist activity while volunteering for the Holy Land Foundation, a Muslim nonprofit organization in the 1990s. However, his lawyers and family members vehemently deny these claims, stating that they are false.
Despite the government's charges, Judge Abdias E. Tida was sympathetic to Marouf's health concerns, citing multiple life-threatening medical conditions, including Brugada syndrome, a serious heart condition marked by irregular rhythm. The judge ultimately ruled that Marouf did not merit voluntary departure, citing his alleged involvement in terrorist activity as the reason for the denial.
The decision has sparked widespread criticism and outrage among community leaders and advocates, who argue that it is a "stain on our legal and moral fabric." Noor Wadi, a close friend of Marouf's and co-leader of the Justice for Marwan campaign, stated that the case was "winnable" and that Marouf had always complied with immigration law.
The community has rallied around Marouf, with many calling for his release and denouncing the government's actions as unjust. The Justice for Marwan campaign has renewed its commitment to fighting for his release and other community members facing similar deportation threats.
Marouf's removal is seen as a cautionary tale about the dangers of immigration enforcement under Trump-era policies, which have disproportionately targeted Muslim communities and marginalized groups. As Noor Wadi put it, "We will not allow the state to erase their stories."