Suspect In Arizona Bombing Was Denied Green Card On ‘Terrorism-Related Grounds’

Arizona Congressman Rep. Paul Gosar wants to know why the suspect in the recent bombing of the CasaGrande, Arizona Social Security Office was allowed to remain in the United States despite his past history and criminal record. Abdullatif Ali Aldosary, 47, was denied a green card in 2011 after “being classified as a person who had engaged in terrorism-related activity” and he was convicted of a felony in 2008.

The recent blast was not the first time the suspect has come to Rep. Gosar’s attention. Aldosary contacted the Congressman in 2011 to ask for his assistance in obtaining a green card to establish permanent residence in the United States and Gosar forwarded Aldosary’s request to immigration officials in November of 2011.

Instead of a green card for one of his constituents, Gosar received a reply from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) informing him of some rather alarming information:

“Aldosary was not eligible for a permanent change to citizenship pursuant to the terrorism-related grounds of inadmissibility, and that individuals who engage in terrorism-related activity … are barred from receiving various immigration benefits.”

Following the arraignment of Aldosary this week, Rep. Gosar sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to ask why Aldosary was permitted to remain in the United States if he was previously involved in “terror-related activities” in his native Iraq. He inquired as to why Aldosary was not detained and deported in 2011 and he also wants to know what efforts were made to monitor Aldosary for possible terrorist activities while he remained in the United States.

As of today, Gosar has not received an official response from the DHS or ICE. CBS5 contacted the DHS for an answer. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Amber Cargile responded to CBS5:

“Mr. Aldosary has an adjustment of status petition currently pending with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services after a previous denial of legal permanent resident status due to his participation in an uprising against Iraqi government forces in Basra in March 1991, during the Gulf War.”

Another government official, who asked to remain anonymous, made the excuse that just because someone is denied a green card for “terrorism-related activity” it doesn’t mean they are a terrorist.

“Terrorism-related inadmissibility grounds (TRIG) in immigration law are broad in scope and they don’t always differentiate between armed groups and the purpose of their activities. So they include activities that we wouldn’t commonly consider to be ‘terrorism,’ such as activities that were performed under duress. They also don’t have an exception for ‘freedom fighters,’ such as a resistance group that is fighting a dictatorial regime.”

Congressman Gosar is still waiting for answers and Aldosary is charged with maliciously damaging federal property by means of explosives and being a felon in possession of a firearm. On Wednesday he was refused bail as a flight risk and a danger to the community.

According to the government complaint filed against Aldosary, the investigating authorities recovered substantial evidence from his home in Coolidge, Arizona.

“Inside the home, police found a rifle, ammunition, bomb-making chemicals and documents on how to make RDX, a powerful military explosive.”

“They found, hidden behind a photograph hanging in the study, documents on how to make explosives and recipes from a book on making explosive devices.”

“Under his nightstand and in other parts of his house, they found more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, including 200 rounds of Russian-made ball and hollow-point ammunition.”

Angry local residents would also like to know why the Obama Administration is allowing terrorism suspects to live in the United States instead of either refusing them entrance or deporting them. Prior to his application for a green card, while residing in the Arizona, the Iraqi native became a convicted felon and parole violator and he was not deported.

Aldosary was sent to prison in 2009 after he informed his parole officer he would rather be incarcerated than accept a sex offender assessment. He was also due to appear in court last week on assault and disorderly conduct charges stemming from a late-August incident at a fitness center in CasaGrande.

How do you feel about the government allowing terrorism suspects into the United States and then not deporting them after they become convicted felons and parole violators? Do you support the Obama Administration’s immigration policies or do you think they are endangering the safety of American citizens?