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Federal judge rules that US can’t strip citizenship from Muslim who aided al-Qaeda in Brooklyn Bridge jihad plot

Jul 22, 2018 11:54 am By Robert Spencer

“American citizenship is precious, and the government carries a heavy burden of proof when attempting to divest a naturalized citizen of his or her citizenship.”

You’d think plotting jihad mass murder by destroying the Brooklyn Bridge would be enough, but no.

“Judge says Pakistan-born terrorist convicted of helping Al-Qaeda can KEEP his US citizenship after government tried to take it away over his plot to ‘cut the cables’ on the Brooklyn Bridge,” Associated Press, July 21, 2018:

The government can’t strip a terrorist of his U.S. citizenship, a federal judge ruled this month in a decision siding with a Pakistan-born man serving the last few years of a 20-year prison sentence for his guilty plea to plotting to destroy New York’s Brooklyn Bridge.

The case involves Iyman Faris, who was sentenced in 2003 for aiding and abetting Al-Qaeda by scoping out the bridge as part of a plot to cut through cables that support it.

His case was among the first and highest-profile terrorism cases after the September 11 attacks.

Faris met with Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan and worked with Sept. 11 architect Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, although some critics questioned how realistic the plot was, given post-Sept. 11 security in New York.

A court filing last year in U.S. District Court in southern Illinois argued that Faris lied on immigration papers before becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1999 and that his terrorist affiliations demonstrated a lack of commitment to the U.S. Constitution….

Faris, who’s 49, was known as Mohammad Rauf before becoming a U.S. citizen, worked as a truck driver in Columbus and was married to an American woman for a while.

He is scheduled for release Dec. 23, 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

Federal Judge Staci Yanle said this month there’s not enough evidence to prove Faris’ misrepresentations influenced the decision to grant him citizenship.

‘American citizenship is precious, and the government carries a heavy burden of proof when attempting to divest a naturalized citizen of his or her citizenship,’ she wrote on July 11….

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Filed Under: Featured, immigration, Jihad in the U.S., United States, Useful idiots Tagged With: Iyman Faris


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Comments

  1. Shelley Bayless says

    Jul 22, 2018 at 11:59 am

    Ignorant unjust judges who care NOTHING about this country and people but care more about criminals!

    • Geoffrey Britain says

      Jul 22, 2018 at 12:21 pm

      Perhaps not ignorant, rather a ‘judge’ appointed by Obama…

      • Jay says

        Jul 22, 2018 at 4:08 pm

        Exactly correct! Thx

      • cornelius crawford says

        Jul 22, 2018 at 11:14 pm

        YOUR RIGHT.
        .

      • Satcatcher says

        Jul 23, 2018 at 8:09 pm

        No, the judge IS ignorant to his/her oath to protect the Constitution from foreign and domestic attacks. This judge needs to be voted out or recalled from the bench. He can be removed.

    • J D S says

      Jul 23, 2018 at 5:09 pm

      In this precarious time America need judges on the bench that see what Islam is all about. Those Judges who are elected by the people are the people’s responsibility and should stand the people’s scrutiny..but don’t those judges who are appointed stand the same scrutiny..at least the scrutiny of those doing the appointing.

    • Jerek says

      Jul 23, 2018 at 8:47 pm

      A court does NOT have authority on immigration. The Constitution says very clearly that CONGRESS shall decide, and they handed that over to the sitting Presidents. A court CANNOT make, repeal, or amend a law, their job is simply to opine on a case.

  2. infidel numero uno says

    Jul 22, 2018 at 12:05 pm

    Just unbelievable. The evidence presented at his trial is MORE than enough proof to yank this terrorist scumbag’s citizenship.

    • gravenimage says

      Jul 22, 2018 at 1:15 pm

      +1

  3. Geoffrey Britain says

    Jul 22, 2018 at 12:20 pm

    Surprise! an Obama judge… “Judge Staci M. Yandle Benton, IL Judge Yandle was appointed United States District Judge for the Southern District of Illinois August 22, 2014.”

  4. infidel says

    Jul 22, 2018 at 12:22 pm

    What kind of judges these are? We in countries like India, where the judiciary has lots left to be desired, ALWAYS look up to countries like USA, where we believe that the Judiciary acts in the BEST INTERESTS of the American people. But now, people like me (even though I’m not American nor do I have any personal interests there) feel TERRIBLY LET DOWN!! If America can get to this low, then IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR THE REST OF THE FREE WORLD??? When a mad terrorist is allowed to roam free among the very people he plotted to destroy?? VOW!!! MIND BOGGLING INDEED!!!!

    • infidel says

      Jul 22, 2018 at 12:27 pm

      If this Jehaadi worm, post-release in 2020, does indulge in acts of terror (very likely) resulting in the loss of innocent American lives, THEN THESE JUDGES HAVE BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS and will have lots to answer to the kith and kin of the dead…

    • may says

      Jul 22, 2018 at 1:03 pm

      We wish that were the case! Judges such as her are making decisions based on “Political Ideology” not our right to live in peace from enemies abroad! I say now since the rights of citizenship cannot be taken easily from a newly granted citizen then it should be much harder to get into the country! Look at what opens borders like this has done to Europe! It is worse then a Disaster!

    • gravenimage says

      Jul 22, 2018 at 1:20 pm

      I hope this judge’s decision is overturned by a higher court.

      • Tricia Stuercke says

        Jul 22, 2018 at 2:21 pm

        Yes, GI, agreed! THE FEDS HAVE TO APPEAL THIS TO THE SUPREMES…WITH THE DEMS SO PRECEDENT-OBSESSED, THIS WOULD SET AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ONE! This guy personally hung with Osama Bin Laden & Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in Afganistan?! That should be enough right there. Anyone know the famed Andy McCarthy? Maybe Trump could pull him out of retirement …

  5. elee says

    Jul 22, 2018 at 12:23 pm

    He’ll probably do less harm if we keep him where we can watch him. This would be best accomplished in a very small space with hard walls and lots of locked doors. Unfortunately his jihad buddies tend to run the Dawa Hiltons of our country…….and they’re a recruitment center for pre-trained jihadi criminals. Still…..if he got deported to Pakistan he could be another Bin Laden. Oh and, with the local “government”‘s blessing and protection.

    • gravenimage says

      Jul 22, 2018 at 1:32 pm

      elee, I think all of these thugs need to be deported after they’ve served their sentences.

      It is true that they can do harm to us abroad–but they can do more harm to us here.

      Just a few short years ago–not even twenty years–Jihad was virtually unknown in the West.

      The huge influx of Mohammedans here has changed that.

      • Tricia Stuercke says

        Jul 22, 2018 at 2:25 pm

        +1!

  6. Mary says

    Jul 22, 2018 at 12:28 pm

    As a non American I can’t understand why the judge wouldn’t strip him of his citizenship immediately.

    • gravenimage says

      Jul 22, 2018 at 1:41 pm

      Mary, a lot of Western nations are loathe to strip naturalized citizens of their citizenship.

      I’m an American, and I think this is idiocy. Sure, if someone, say, racks up some parking tickets they can still be a good citizen.

      But plotting to mass murder native citizens and replace their civilized society with an alien barbarian creed? This is no American.

      I think *all* Western nations should strip Jihad plotters of their citizenship.

      • mortimer says

        Jul 22, 2018 at 2:05 pm

        Plotting to commit MASS MURDER OF FELLOW AMERICANS IS NOT ENOUGH to lose citizenship? Why not let them COMMIT the mass murder then?

        How would that work? Could we then sue Federal Judge Staci Yanle for negligence ?

      • Tricia Stuercke says

        Jul 22, 2018 at 2:38 pm

        Amen! This guy became a citizen in ’99…re: 9/11 2001, was he possibly 1 of those guys hanging in the cave with Bin Laden, raving over The Brothers’ great success for Allah, amused at “watching Katie Couric” in her real-time reporting? He NEVER stopped being a Pakistani…NEVER should’ve received US Citizenship! But, no one was watching for this stuff then…shame on this pathetic “Jihadi-sympathizer” judge!

      • balam says

        Jul 23, 2018 at 4:54 am

        Muslims seems to have NO CONSCIENCE and it does not bother them a bit if they kill the JEWS and CHRISTIANS because Mohammad told them to do that.Most Muslims are either brain washed,Brain damaged,brain dead or simply brainless.

  7. mgoldberg says

    Jul 22, 2018 at 12:39 pm

    So.. attempted murder is not a reason to expel a person, and erase his citizenship?
    The excuse being that citizenship is sacred, so we can’t remove it…., although the homicidist
    attempted to erase citiezens from their lives?

    Is there any judicial recourse to reverse this absurd decision?

  8. pemba says

    Jul 22, 2018 at 12:58 pm

    The guy is traitor plus radical muslim terrorist, and he is danger to the security. instead of hanging him we paid all this while at the expense tax-payers.

    Judge is not just in this case.

  9. gravenimage says

    Jul 22, 2018 at 1:12 pm

    Federal judge rules that US can’t strip citizenship from Muslim who aided al-Qaeda in Brooklyn Bridge jihad plot

    “American citizenship is precious…”
    ………………..

    American citizenship *is* precious, and should not be bestowed on those who hate every American value and are only using American citizenship to get close enough to destroy us.

    • Savvy Kafir says

      Jul 22, 2018 at 1:24 pm

      Exactly!

    • balam says

      Jul 23, 2018 at 4:58 am

      gravenimage: SO ARE AMERICAN LIVES PRECIOUS!!!!!!

      • gravenimage says

        Jul 23, 2018 at 8:57 pm

        +1

  10. utis says

    Jul 22, 2018 at 3:00 pm

    Don’t we practice deportation any more? Mafia members were shipped back just for being ruthless thieves and killers. Good enough reason in my book, but treason should be even more heinous. Ship him back in a halal coffin.

  11. eduardo odraude says

    Jul 22, 2018 at 3:59 pm

    Judges and politicians like this are what make the last resort, violent revolutionary action by thugs, more likely. To paraphrase John F. Kennedy, when you make peaceful revolution impossible, you make violent revolution inevitable. If the center fails to hold — and this case is an example of a judge miserably failing to hold the center — if the best lack all conviction, the worst will remain full of passionate intensity. And the “best” — or those who should be, like this judge — seem these days to lack any will to defend their own civilization — or perhaps what they lack is knowledge, not will.

  12. Lydia Church says

    Jul 22, 2018 at 6:29 pm

    There are simply no words…!

  13. Guy Forester says

    Jul 22, 2018 at 7:26 pm

    This judge evidently has not studied US Immigration and Naturalization laws. Lying by itself on the apps to become an immigrant, and then a citizen, by itself is enough to warrant loss of citizenship. A felony conviction is enough to cause loss of citizenship. He has two good reasons to be tossed out the door.

    HEY SESSIONS, wake up you lazy Son of a Sea Cook! Immediately appeal this ruling and take it all the way to the SCOTUS if needed.

    HEY TRUMP: If Sessions keeps dragging his anchor, get someone in there that will do the job of protecting the US.

  14. Georg says

    Jul 22, 2018 at 8:02 pm

    If he’s not stripped of citizenship, who would be? Sick that Obama et al. get away with setting a precedent like this.

  15. Northern Virginiastan says

    Jul 22, 2018 at 8:28 pm

    He reminds me of Ron Jeremy!

    • gravenimage says

      Jul 23, 2018 at 9:25 pm

      Ron Jeremy is a much nicer guy. I’ll take a porn star–no matter how sleazy–over a Jihadist any day of the week.

  16. Rick Johnson says

    Jul 22, 2018 at 9:44 pm

    What do you expect from an Obama appointee.. The law is very clear. She is stretching and misapplying the SCOTUS ruling in Maslenjak. His taking part in a planned attack on the US is enough for denaturation.

  17. Rick Johnson says

    Jul 22, 2018 at 10:00 pm

    Almallah, Rasmi Khader was denaturalized because he was a fund raiser for a terrorist organization and 5th circuit upheld the denaturalization. So this guys meeting and helping in a planned attack on the US should be more than enough. Once again an activist judge rules based on emotions and not the law. Ignoring precedent set by a higher court.

  18. Vicky says

    Jul 23, 2018 at 5:00 am

    Of course the U.S. can! This is a corrupt unconstitutional judge legislating from the bench. Judges do not have the power to create, change or erase law. They can only give an opinion as to a law’s constitutionality. That opinion does not have to be recognized if or when it does not follow the bounds of the constitution.

  19. Horseman says

    Jul 23, 2018 at 9:14 am

    These judge appointments are a very prime reason why we can never again let the Democrats come to a position of national power.

  20. Giacomo Latta says

    Jul 23, 2018 at 9:22 am

    ”American citizenship is precious.” ? Apparently, American lives, not so much.

  21. James K. says

    Jul 23, 2018 at 11:10 am

    America is going down, and people are too stupid and apathetic to care.

    • gravenimage says

      Jul 23, 2018 at 10:10 pm

      I’m not stupid or apathetic. I believe that patriotic Americans *can* make a difference.

      • Linda Clark formerly Linnte says

        Jul 25, 2018 at 11:41 am

        AND WE ARE GI. Since I started this rolli-coaster ride of learning Islam, and speaking out AGAINST IT, the number of people who call me a racist, islamophobe has gone from nearly everyone to a rare individual. I also have happily noticed many more people are speaking knowledgeably about Islam than from even last year. We are creating ripples in the pond of knowledge. And thank GOD!

  22. Jerek says

    Jul 23, 2018 at 5:18 pm

    Its entirely up to Congress, that’s part of their job! Remember, Court rulings are ONLY OPINIONS, too many people think they are law! No Court has the authority to make, repeal, or amend laws. #StopBeingFooled

  23. Linda Clark formerly Linnte says

    Jul 23, 2018 at 6:02 pm

    This is EXACTLY why we must PUSH for Islam to be proclaimed a covert NATION. And enemy Nation.

  24. alex dennison says

    Jul 23, 2018 at 7:54 pm

    “American citizenship is precious.” Yes, it is you idiot judge, and this is a good reason for taking it away from a terrorist.

    • gravenimage says

      Jul 23, 2018 at 10:10 pm

      Spot on, Alex.

  25. Jay says

    Jul 23, 2018 at 10:26 pm

    George Soros $18 BILLION goes a long way in such bribes.

    • gravenimage says

      Jul 23, 2018 at 10:31 pm

      I doubt this judge was bribed. Didn’t have to be.

  26. Somebody says

    Jul 24, 2018 at 1:05 am

    Since he is a full citizen, he committed treason and should be sentenced to prison, without parole. You can’t have it both ways.

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