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June 8, 2010
'Son of Hamas' Author May Be Deported
In late May, Mosab Hassan Yousef, author of best seller "Son of Hamas" about his life as an informant inside Israel and his life-changing decision to follow Christ, posted on his personal blog that US Homeland Security wants to kick him out of the US for his past ties to Hamas.
He writes:
I have worn many hats in 32 years—Muslim, Christian, son of Hamas, Prisoner 823, spy, traitor, USAID administrator, businessman, best-selling author. Now I am Homeland Security File# A 088 271 051. And, according to these “highly trained” civil servants, I am a threat to America’s national security and must be deported. On June 30, at 8 a.m., I have a hearing before Immigration Judge Rico J. Bartolomei at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration Court in San Diego. But I am not worried about this. I am outraged! My only concern is about a security system that is so primitive and naive that it endangers the lives of countless Americans. Honestly, Judge Bartolomei’s verdict really does not matter. If he rules to deport me, I will appeal. And Homeland Security has assured me that, if he rules in my favor, they will appeal. And this insane merry-go-round can go on like that for decades.
I interviewed Mosab some weeks ago and and edited version of this interview is in the June issue of CT and posted online today. As an American, I suppose what is most shocking about Mosab's situation right now is that he's the one that made first contact with Homeland Security!
He notes in his blog:
It began when I arrived in America January 2, 2007. I walked into the airport like anyone else on a tourist visa. Seven months later, I went to the Homeland Security office, knocked on their door and told them, “Hey, guys, I am the son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, my father is involved in a terrorist organization, and I would like political asylum in your country.” They were shocked. They didn’t expect it. I told them, hey, you didn’t discover me. You didn’t catch me. I came to you and told you who I am to wake you up. I wanted them to see that they have huge gaps in their security and their understanding of terrorism and make changes before it’s too late. I filed an application for political asylum. Not surprisingly, on February 23, 2009, they told me that I was “barred from a grant of asylum because there were reasonable grounds for believing [I] was a danger to the security of the United States and because [I] engaged in terrorist activity.”
What is additionally suprising is that so far very few within the community of Christian leaders have come forward in recent days to vouch for Mosab or pledge their support in his fight against deportation.
In the meantime, CT is following another tragic deportation case involving a former Muslim who gave his life to Christ.
A Kenyan who graduated from a Michigan college and wrote a book about his conversion to Christianity has lost his bid to remain in the U.S. A federal appeals court today refused to overturn a decision to send Hussein Wario back to Kenya. Wario fears he will be persecuted because of his conversion from Islam. But the appeals court says Kenya mostly is a Christian country and Wario can live there while avoiding his hometown, the Tana River District. The 35-year-old Wario entered the United States to attend Hope College in Holland in western Michigan. He graduated in 2000 and wrote a book last year, titled "Cracks in the Crescent," about his conversion to Christianity.
If you are not scratching your head yet, President Obama's aunt was just recently granted political asylum after a judge reversed his ruling to deport her. You can read about this mysterious ruling here. Amazing.
Comments
Mosab and his attorney should have received today a petition with several hundred signatures from our church members as well as a personal letter from me requesting that the federal judge grant Mosab Hassan political asylum in the United States. We, too, believe it ludicrous that our government is considering deporting Mosab and we have made our angst known to the federal immigration court.
Posted By: Wade Burleson | June 8, 2010 1:58 PM
The Kenyan, Hussein Wario, can avoid his hometown, but being back in Kenya will make him vulnerable. After all, he can avoid his hometown, but those from his hometown can go anywhere in Kenya to track him down.
Posted By: John H. Guthrie | June 8, 2010 2:50 PM
It is stupid on our part to deport these men, but Wario would be a blessing back home. It's sad that so many students from poor countries come here to study and then stay, which is what we call "the brain drain".
Posted By: Marcia Yiapan | June 9, 2010 1:11 PM
Marcia:
How would Wario's brain going to be of use in Kenya where he would not do anything in public? Are you familiar with his background? He lived in Kenya for almost six years after his conversion. He dealt with so much as a high school student. What would his detractors do now?
Posted By: Ralph | June 9, 2010 10:23 PM
Hey CT,
Would it be possible for you all to post links where we can send letters to authorities on Mosab's behalf?
Posted By: Bruce | June 10, 2010 6:53 AM
Let's see, illegal immigrants can be granted access to citizenship on the grounds that they came here for a job, but this man can't be granted access to citizenship when if he returns to his homeland he is available for killing by non Christians. Yup, that's sounds like our legal system which has been infiltrated by citizens who hate American values including standing up for those who believe in the freedom to choose one's religion and doing things like entering a foreign country legally. Shades of Arizona being ostracized for trying to control it's borders against those breaking the laws the federal government is supposed to be enforcing. That's our legal system now. If Kenya is no problem than why can't this man be a Christian in his hometown without fear of being a target for Muslims. What happened to the humanitarism our law is supposed to be about. Kenya is not India with it's brain drain to here for economic reasons. Kenya is fighting a battle between two religions, one extremely violent. Vietnam refugees who favored the U.S. and even worked for the U.S. sat in camps for 20 to 25 years while immigration courts paid back these people for being on the U.S. side. Their humanitarism apparently hasn't changed since Vietnam. An enemy looking to make money on drugs or to kill Americans has a better chance of staying in this country. It's the new humanitarism.
Posted By: Original Anna | June 15, 2010 10:36 PM
Sorry, I meant to include Yousef in my posting but didn't type his name in. Afterall, if he returns to where he was raised and his father or even Israel as known for working (spying) for Hamas' enemy, he will be tracked down and killed for pay back. Spies are considered traitors to their countrymen which usually results in a death sentence if caught. This man got to the U.S. and should be allowed to come as a spy for the U.S. since he was responsible for getting the killers of Americans and also saving Americans from his own father and the people his father served. And, again, our governmental agencies did nothing about getting the killers of Americans in foreign countries. Nothing new here. Our government agency workers involved in not solving American killings or not even trying should be the ones refused citizenship as they are not protecting American citizens, you know, their supposedly first
duty. This man did more protecting of American citizens than Homeland Security has done and at the chance of losing his life which members of H.S. aren't endangering their lives staying in the States. Considering how he was raised, it's a miracle for the U.S. and Israel that he saw the truth because staying as he was raised could have caused more killings of Americans and Israelies.
Posted By: Original Anna | June 15, 2010 11:08 PM
I have been praying for Hassan ever since I read his book.
I passed his book around to friends on the condition they
pray for him. Now we are joining together before the throne
of grace that God will open great doors of ministry for Hassan.
We pray the US will give him freedom to stay and God will open
opportunities for ministry. He is still in my prayers.
Posted By: EUGENE MADEIRA | June 16, 2010 8:29 PM
I have been praying for him regulalry since reading his book.
Now I will get my friends to pray for him. God has a plan
for his life and I don't want the US Govt to interrupt that plan.
Posted By: Eugene Madeira | June 16, 2010 8:41 PM
Does anyone know where Mosab's hearing will be? I cannot seem to figure out the San Diego address of the Homeland Security Immigration Court. I called some #s today but got the runaround. It's important that people come show support. Thanks, and God bless! Email me at cheryl@cherylford.com if you have this info. Again, thanks!
Posted By: Cheri Ford | June 17, 2010 11:09 PM
This is rather confusing. I hope that the matter will be resolved in the best way possible for all parties concerned.
Posted By: Psychologist Perth | February 17, 2011 10:50 PM
This is shocking! Poor guy.
Posted By: Social | February 19, 2011 9:46 PM