Khaberni - A federal immigration judge issued a deportation order for the Jordanian Marwan Ma’roof (54 years old), who is a prominent figure in the Muslim community in Dallas, after he was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last September.
According to prosecutors, he might be deported to Jordan in the next two weeks.
Ma’roof holds Jordanian nationality, was born in Kuwait, and arrived in the United States 30 years ago, where he lived a stable life and was a community activist.
He was recently arrested on his way to work after his green card application was rejected due to past donations he made in the 1990s to the Holy Land Foundation before it was designated as a terrorist organization in 2001.
Denied the Option of "Voluntary Departure"
The judge denied Ma’roof the option of "voluntary departure," a measure that would have allowed him to leave the country under less stringent conditions, with the possibility of legally returning later.
His lawyer confirmed that Ma’roof will not appeal the decision, noting that accepting deportation is "the result of impossible circumstances imposed by a system that failed to protect him."
And his lawyer, Mariam Uddin said: “It is easy to say that Marwan lost America... but the truth is that America lost Marwan.”
Department of Homeland Security: "Green Card is a Privilege, Not a Right"
In turn, Trisha McLoughlin, a Homeland Security official, said: "The green card is a privilege and not a right."
She added: "If you support Hamas propaganda or terrorist-designated organizations... you will face consequences."
Family and Community: "The Case Represents Political Targeting"
His family considered the case to represent political targeting, a sentiment shared by the Muslim community in Dallas.
His lawyers said his donations — amounting to $14,000 — were made before the organization was designated, and considering them now as “support for terrorism” poses a dangerous precedent.
Solidarity Campaign
Activists launched a solidarity campaign named Justice4Marwan, describing the case as a “targeted attack” against activists supportive of Palestine, noting the arrest of another Muslim immigrant in Dallas last month for the same reason.
The campaign warned of health risks threatening Ma’roof's life, noting that he has suffered from heart disorders and has had a pacemaker for 20 years, which makes his detention under harsh conditions a broad concern regarding his safety.
