Community rallies as judge hears case for ICE release
Marwan Marouf, a North Texas Islamic community leader detained a month ago for a visa overstay, is currently fighting for his release on bond in Houston immigration court while facing new terror-related civil complaints from the Department of Homeland Security.
An Islamic community leader from North Texas is fighting to be released on bond from immigration custody. It’s a case that has attracted widespread attention, based on the circumstances of his detention, and the lack of transparency by the government.
Supporters rally outside court
What we know:
Supporters of Marwan Marouf have been advocating for his release since he was picked up by ICE agents in Richardson a month ago. Today, many of them traveled to Houston to rally outside an immigration court where his hearing is currently going on.
A large group of family and supporters chanted outside the courthouse on Thursday afternoon.
One of his attorneys spoke to reporters as a hearing was getting underway.
Dallas Muslim community leader detained by ICE
An Islamic community leader in Dallas was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents Monday morning, a decision his legal team is challenging in both immigration and federal court.
What they’re saying:
“Our hope is the judge sees the truth, the justice that Brother Marwan is a man of service of good character and someone he should certainly terminate deportation proceedings on and allow to return to his family, his loved ones and service to his community,” said attorney, Noor Wadi.
DHS uses controversial new policy
In its move to try and deny Marouf bond, the Department of Homeland Security is seemingly, for the first time, enacting a policy denying bond eligibility to someone who had entered the U.S. with inspection.
Decades of legal residence and service
The backstory:
Marouf is a leader of the Muslim American society of Dallas” and founder of North Texas’ largest boy scout troop. He came into the U.S. legally more than 30 years ago as a student and was later sponsored on a work visa.
Marouf was charged by civil authorities with overstaying his visa. The federal government also recently hit him with a terror-related “civil” complaint, which has complicated the fight to get him released on bond.
His supporters deny he did anything wrong and say the government is distorting his volunteer and charity work. They point out these are not criminal charges, but immigration complaints, meaning the government has a lower burden of proof to keep him held without bond.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by FOX 4’s Alex Boyer.