Posted on 06/13/2005 7:00:31 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO (AP) - The attorney for three Pakistani citizens held on immigration complaints criticized federal agencies Monday for suggesting they are part of an investigation into a Lodi man suspected of training at an al-Qaida terrorist camp in Pakistan and planning attacks in the U.S.
"There is not a single item of evidence that any of my three clients has ever been involved in, or in any way associated with, any terrorist activity whatsoever," Saad Ahmad said in a letter to news outlets. "Further, we dispute the government's charges that any visa violations occurred."
Ahmad represents two Lodi religious leaders, Muhammad Adil Khan and Shabbir Ahmed, and Khan's 19-year-old son, Muhammad Hassan Adil Khan, all of whom were detained last week pending immigration hearings scheduled within the next three weeks.
At the same time, the FBI arrested Hamid Hayat, 22, who is alleged to have attended an al-Qaida-linked terrorist camp in Pakistan in 2003 and 2004. He and his father, Umer Hayat, 47, both U.S. citizens, are being held without bail on charges of lying to federal investigators.
"That's what the investigation is about," responded FBI spokeswoman Marcie Soligo. "Certainly we don't want to jump to any conclusions" but "they're all part of our investigation."
Ahmad said his clients, their families and the Pakistani community have been tarnished by the association. "My clients love the United States, and cherish the fact that they are free to practice the Muslim religion here. They are eager to clear their names and prove their innocence."
He also disputed the immigration complaints. Ahmed was admitted to the United States on Jan. 23, 2002, and Adil Khan on April 9, 2001, both on religious visas contingent on their employment as Muslim religious leaders, or imams, for the duration of their stay, Ahmad said. Hassan Khan was admitted on March 7, 2003, as Adil Khan's minor child.
Ahmad said the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement wants to deport Adil Khan because he is no longer employed as an imam, and his son because his father's employment has lapsed. Ahmed is said to have overstayed his visa.
The federal agency has declined to detail the allegations against the men.
"He has the opportunity to present that information to the immigration judge," said ICE spokeswoman Lori Haley. "That's what the hearing's about. They have due process."
Meanwhile Monday, U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott and the FBI's chief agent, Keith Slotter, made their second trip to Lodi in three days to talk with local officials concerned about the FBI's investigation there.
On Saturday, they met with local Muslim leaders concerned that authorities are badgering the city's more than 2,000 Pakistanis. They met Monday with the city manager and police chief over concerns that the media has portrayed Lodi as harboring a "terrorist cell," and that the investigation might trigger retaliation against local Muslims or Pakistanis.
"This is a very small group of people, it's not the Muslim people," Scott said in a telephone interview later.
The FBI says it has spent several years investigating possible terrorist ties with the Pakistani community in Lodi, a quiet agricultural town about 30 miles south of Sacramento. The probe, now involving many dozens of investigators, has since expanded across the West, though officials said the focus remains Lodi.
Hamid Hayat is the only person with any alleged direct terrorist involvement. Authorities say he attended the terror camp for about six months before returning to the U.S. intending to wage attacks. But officials said they have found no immediate threat or terrorist activity.
Umer Hayat paid for his son to attend the camp, which was run by a friend of his father-in-law's, an FBI affidavit alleges.
Can anyone attend mosque "service"?
Just what we need: LOTS more muslim imams, to teach the insane murder cult.
Ship them out, they don't need to be here!
The alleged "imam" and his (now adult) 19-year old son are clearly in violation of their visas, and its time for them to go home.
CA: Arrests are latest in feud among Lodi Muslims
Lodi News-Sentinel ^ | Friday, Jun 10, 2005 - 06:48:47 am PDT | Ross Farrow News-Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted on 06/10/2005 10:03:04 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
This week's arrest of five Lodi men by the FBI is the latest episode in the internal dissension that has rocked Lodi's Muslim community for more than a year.
Tensions have been so pronounced that the Lodi Muslim Mosque has sued the leader of an effort to build an elementary school and worship center on Lower Sacramento Road. A defendant in the lawsuit, Mohammad Adil Khan, was one of the three men arrested this week on immigration charges.
See link for the rest of the article.
"There is not a single item of evidence ..."
What a stupid statement .. like we just plucked these people out of thin air.
Ahmad said the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement wants to deport Adil Khan because he is no longer employed as an imam, and his son because his father's employment has lapsed. Ahmed is said to have overstayed his visa.
BINGO! That's two grounds for being removed (deported) from the US.
Plus, the Immigration Judge is not required to grant them bond while their cases are pending, and it seems that the ICE will ask that there be no bond.
ping
Immigration holds by the feds is SOP.
They use them all the time on federal drug trafficer cases. Thus even if a defendant gets a 100,000 bond or some such amount, they are able to keep them in custody for trial. Additionally IF they even get a Immigration bond, it case be set at the seven firgures and above.
This is a BS protest. It predates 9/11 and even the bush administration.
Tag Line BTTT...
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Be Ever Vigilant!
Minutemen Patriots ~ Bump!
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