INS Denied Residency to LAX Gunman

AP | 7/06/02 | ANDREW BRIDGE

[kattracks]

LOS ANGELES, Jul 06, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- The Egyptian immigrant who gunned down two people at Los Angeles International Airport drew little attention during the 10 years he lived in the United States. However, an INS spokesman said the man's first petition for permanent residency had been denied.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service rejected Hesham Mohamed Hadayet's request to remain in the country in February 1996, INS spokesman Ron Rogers said in Saturday's Orange County Register. It wasn't clear why.

The agency began deportation procedures, but in 1997, Hadayet was granted permanent residency through his wife, Hala, who received an immigration visa through the Department of States' Diversity Lottery Program, the Register and Los Angeles Times reported.

Hadayet's uncle, Hassan Mostaffa Mahfouz, told The Associated Press in Egypt that Hadayet had only about a year remaining before he qualified for citizenship and that he was happy in the United States.

"I don't believe what happened," Mahfouz said. "I felt that he could not do that."

Police files from Irvine, where Hadayet lived, show officers went to his apartment on a domestic dispute call six years ago, but he was not prosecuted. Nothing else in the files even hints at the violence he unleashed Thursday, on his 41st birthday.

The FBI said Hadayet went to the El Al counter intending to kill people, but his motive remained unclear Saturday.

Israeli officials said they would consider the attack an act of terror unless it was proven otherwise. But on Friday, White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said, "There is no evidence, no indication at this time that this is terrorists."

FBI special agent Richard Garcia said it still wasn't known if Hadayet harbored anti-Israel feelings.

"Besides terrorism and such, we are also looking into the possibility of a hate crime. We're also looking into the possibility of the person being despondent," Garcia said.

Hadayet was the fourth person in line at the counter when he opened fire, authorities said. He fired 10 or 11 bullets before he was shot dead by an airline security guard.

Three other people were wounded, including a guard who was stabbed by Hadayet as he fought with the wounded gunman. FBI spokesman Matt McLaughlin said the guard will recover. A fourth bystander suffered heart trouble after the attack.

Hadayet was armed with a .45-caliber semiautomatic Glock pistol, a 9 mm handgun and a 6-inch knife. A law enforcement source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Hadayet had owned one of the guns "for years" and purchased the other a couple of months ago.

Abdul Zahav, a man who said he worked for Hadayet until he was fired two years ago, said Hadayet once told him he hated all Israelis.

"He kept all his anger inside him. So he can't hold it anymore, he can't hold it anymore," Zahav said.

Others painted a far different picture of Hadayet.

"He was never hateful or belligerent," said Dan Danilewicz, whose 17-year-old son was a friend of the Hadayet family. "I can't see him carrying a knife or gun into the airport. Nothing anti-American or anti-Semitic ever came out of their mouths."

Hadayet's wife and sons, Adam, 8, and Omar, 14, had left California for Egypt about a week before the shootings.

Relatives said Hadayet was a Cairo-born accountant who ran a limousine company out of his apartment. Mahfouz said Hadayet studied commerce at Ain Shams University in Cairo and worked as an accountant in a bank before leaving for the United States in 1992.

"He is a very, very tender person and close to his family," Mahfouz said.

Irvine police Lt. Dave Freedland said Hadayet had three contacts with the department since 1996 - all of them "unremarkable."

Police records show officers were called to the apartment on May 19, 1996, over a domestic dispute. They found Hadayet and his wife "had been involved in a physical confrontation." Police referred the case to the district attorney for potential assault-and-battery charges against both parties, but the office declined to prosecute.

The only other Irvine police files on Hadayet were when he was robbed in January 1997 while driving a cab at Orange County's John Wayne Airport, and when he was listed as a witness and victim in a fraud case reported last November.

Neighbors said Hadayet was quiet, but once became angry when an upstairs neighbor hung large American and Marine Corps flags from a balcony above his front door after the Sept. 11 attacks.

"He complained about it to the apartment manager. He thought it was being thrown in his face," neighbor Steve Thompson said.

There was no record of such a complaint, said Rich Elbaum, a spokesman for The Irvine Co., which owns the complex where Hadayet lived.

The flags were there the day of the shooting. A bumper sticker on Hadayet's front door that read "Read the Koran" was removed by authorities.

The FBI searched the apartment Thursday night, impounding a Toyota Camry, a computer, books, binders and other material.

Los Angeles officials, meanwhile, sought to assure the public that the city was safe.

"We have no information of any credible threats anywhere in the city of Los Angeles," Mayor James Hahn told reporters outside police headquarters.

By ANDREW BRIDGES Associated Press Writer

Copyright 2002 Associated Press, All rights reserved

[pabianice]

who received an immigration visa through the Department of States' Diversity Lottery Program,

Pretty much says it all. We let people in not based upon who they are or what they can contribute, but because of the color if their skin. Pure, unadulterated racism.

[kattracks]

This guy was going to be deported and there's no record of why? Apparently, the INS doesn't go to great lengths to search out and deport people, so there must have been something to bring him to their attention. What?!?

[Ciexyz]

What timing. The family runs for safety back to the homeland, Egypt, a week before the guy carries out a terrorist shooting.

[FITZ]

Relatives said Hadayet was a Cairo-born accountant who ran a limousine company out of his apartment.

Another needed immigrant here to do work no American would do.

[Stentor]

FBI special agent Richard Garcia said it still wasn't known if Hadayet harbored anti-Israel feelings.

HUH?

[sarcasm]

We clearly need more diversity in our terrorist population.

[Soul Citizen]

Sleeper

[Reaganwuzthebest]

who received an immigration visa through the Department of States' Diversity Lottery Program

If I'm not mistaken, Ted Kennedy pushed that legislation through in the early 90's. Apparently his desire to destroy America and Americans wasn't satisfied with the 1965 disaster.

That traitor can't retire quick enough for me.

[Hildy]

When I worked at a Technical Society, one of our Board Members lamented that he could not receive a VISA for his main Engineer, one of the most brilliant engineers he had ever met.

[sarcasm]

How many more will get permanent residence if Bush gets his 245(i) extension?

[Pharmboy]

I don't get it: we already have many arab terrorists. If we were going for diversity, why not let in some Basque terrorists? The State Dept. is slipping...

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Just guessing, but if 500,000 are amnestied through 245(i), which Numbers USA estimates it at, then you have to figure after they bring in all their relatives from chain migration, it'll be at least several million more.

[Havisham]

Give me a break! The perp had fake IDs and aliases. He was an islamist sleeper employed to keep terrorism in the news. His elite connections only underscore his terror motive. He knew when he left the house that morning that he would not survive the attack. He was a suicide killer. The mystery exits only in the minds of the FBI and the administration.

[aristeides]

Police records show officers were called to the apartment on May 19, 1996, over a domestic dispute. They found Hadayet and his wife "had been involved in a physical confrontation." Police referred the case to the district attorney for potential assault-and-battery charges against both parties, but the office declined to prosecute.

The domestic dispute turns out to have been with his wife, as I had at first supposed. I wonder why this article doesn't mention the guy's dispute with his neighbors.

[Guillermo]

...who received an immigration visa through the Department of States' Diversity Lottery Program

Does this just make ya wanna scream, or what?

[tallhappy]

FBI special agent Richard Garcia said it still wasn't known if Hadayet harbored anti-Israel feelings.

One of his employees was on TV last night saying that this guy hated the Jews of course like all of them hate the Jews because the Jews are destroying Egypt by bringing in prostitutes and such types sins.

He said everyone knows it and hates the Jews for it but shouldn't go out and kill like that.

Seriously -- the above sounds like a joke but it was on local TV yesterday.

In the interview the employee was saying this and at first I thought he was presenting it as the killer being a little crazy but he kept going and it became apparent he also believed that. And he was oblivious to the ludicrousness of his own comments.

The cowardly news people said absolutly nothing about these comments by the employee.

[aristeides]

If the guy's residency in this country depended on the wife's status, what happens to him when the wife goes back to Egypt?

[bok]

The government has more blood on their hands.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

diversity lottery

Also interesting to note that possible terrorists/murderers/Islamic assassins can participate in the "lottery."

Sounds like an awfully big game of chance, IMO.

[aristeides]

Department of States' Diversity Lottery Program

Can't say I ever heard of that program. I wonder when it got started.

[aristeides]

Any further word on whether Hadayet was on an FBI watch list?

[Squantos]

Hadayet was granted permanent residency through his wife, Hala, who received an immigration visa through the Department of States' Diversity Lottery Program

Well if this doesn't pump sunshine up yer skirt nothing will.........

Stay Safe ,Vote, Cache & Carry !

[Sabertooth]

The Immigration and Naturalization Service rejected Hesham Mohamed Hadayet's request to remain in the country in February 1996, INS spokesman Ron Rogers said in Saturday's Orange County Register. It wasn't clear why.

The agency began deportation procedures, but in 1997, Hadayet was granted permanent residency through his wife, Hala, who received an immigration visa through the Department of States' Diversity Lottery Program, the Register and Los Angeles Times reported.

An Egyptian male, once rejected by the INS for permanent residency... and he's not on the FBI's watch list?

That's not the excuse, that's the problem.

Israeli officials said they would consider the attack an act of terror unless it was proven otherwise. But on Friday, White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said, "There is no evidence, no indication at this time that this is terrorists."

Having learned to parse in the Clinton years, I find Ari Fleischer's use of "terrorists" in the plural to be of possible significance. By the definition of terrorism being pushed by the FBI, terrorism requires a group, therefore, there is no such thing as a "terrorist" in the singular.

A bumper sticker on Hadayet's front door that read "Read the Koran" was removed by authorities.

Which authorities? Why? Has it been collected as evidence?

[cinFLA]

Neighbors said Hadayet was quiet, but once became angry when an upstairs neighbor hung large American and Marine Corps flags from a balcony above his front door after the Sept. 11 attacks.

And the article says the guy was happy in America and close to being a US citizen! Apparently NOT!

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Can't say I ever heard of that program. I wonder when it got started.

Diversity Lottery Program

[Bernard]

This will sound like a joke, but if Blockbuster was in charge of finding potential terrorists and other illegal aliens who are breaking our laws, there would be fewer illegal aliens in this country.

The INS, much like the FBI, needs to be disbanded and replaced. The rot is too deep for any cosmetic changes.

[FreedomPoster]

What timing. The family runs for safety back to the homeland, Egypt, a week before the guy carries out a terrorist shooting.

The head-in-the-sand, we-parrot-the-government-line crowd is all over one of the other threads on this, declaring it was just an "isolated incident" by a "lone nutcase", and not terrorism. Forget the timing, forget the guy's background.

If the government had said nothing at all, one way or the other, before a thorough investigation, that would be one thing. Now, I believe it is almost certainly terrorism, simply because of the government's rush to declare it not so.

[Jeff Head]

IMHO, the root word for diverse is divide. Apparently there is now a program in the state department that glorifies this and is pumping people in here to celebrate it ... this example a case in point.

We are not strong becaues we are diverse ... we are strong because we are united.

We are a gathering of diverse people it is true ... but therein is not our strength. We re strong because those people are united under certain republican principles based on liberty and faith in God. That's how it started and that's the foundation that the entire system was built upon ... uniting under those principles is what makes us strong.

As long as we maintain that, we are like a cord of many ropes bound together and united ... impossible to break. If we lose that, we are like a bunch of seperate threads that can be easily broken individually.

We have enemies, foreign and domestic who are committed to breaking that union, separating us, dividing us ... and destroying us. This guy was one component of the foeign variety as was 9-11. I am afraid we have let a lot more ... they are inside the perimeter and they are starting to place and throw their satchel charges.

[FITZ]

Any further word on whether Hadayet was on an FBI watch list?

He probably wasn't, the FBI has been too busy watching Americans to watch foreign enemies infiltrating the US.

[bootyist-monk]

From the diversity link...

Jack Martin, special projects director for the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), said he doubts that terrorists use the diversity immigrant visa program because obtaining permanent residence visas is such a long process that includes a more thorough background check than that involved in getting a temporary visa (for business, tourism, or study).

Hmmm....

[4Freedom]

Isn't it wonderful that the INS kept this happy little family together? They must be so proud.

[dagoofyfoot]

"I can't see him carrying a knife or a gun into the airport"
Just goes to show you that they are all ticking time bombs..SLEEPERS!

[angkor]

Below are the dates compiled from this and other reports:

1988 Son Omar born (other reports 1990)
1992 Comes to USA
1994 Son Adam born (other reports 1996)
Feb-96 Permanent residency denied
May-96 Police called on husband/wife dispute
Jan-97 Taxi driver Orange County
1997 Permanent residency granted
2003 Father's claimed naturalization date

There's quite a bit of conflicting information out there, but interesting questions and observations include:

Both sons appear to have been born in Egypt.

Given the 6-12 month application cycle for residency, it appears he applied in 1995. What was his visa status from 1992 through 1995?

When did his wife (so very fortuitously) win the visa "lottery"? Between 2/96 and 1997? Or between his original application of 1995, and 1997?

How was his son Adam conceived and then born in either 1993/4 or perhaps 1995/6? Did he travel to Egypt (again, on what visa), or was his wife here by then?

Are the wife and kids all Egyptian citizens?

INS - as usual - has several questions to answer here.

[Jeff Head]

Of course they don't use the program Mr. Martin ... that would put a black mark and a stain on the program and its public funding ... so of COURSE the terrorists don't use the program.

They don't have the patience for it anyway ... and why should they when they can just get their wives to do it for them?

[MissAmericanPie]

OH, it's a fun program, 50,000 lottery winners a year for a green card. So far I have not heard a peep from any representative but Tancredo about this immigration mess.

[Greeklawyer]

"feelings"??!!!!!!

how about ACTIONS......

[VOA]

The cowardly news people said absolutly nothing about these comments by the employee.

It could be that some of the news people let this guy have his First Amendment moment,
knowing about 90-95% of the viewers would want to throw a brick at their TVs.

[Grampa Dave]

Diversity is also the code word for the dark siders for Perversity.

So they when say Diversity is good, they really mean that Preversity is good!

Diversity = Preversity

[Barnacle]

A bumper sticker on Hadayet's front door that read "Read the Koran" was removed by authorities.

Nothing to see hear folks. Just a little misunderstanding about ticket reservations. It's all squared away now. Move along. Let's keep keep moving.

[Pa' fuera]

If the guy's residency in this country depended on the wife's status, what happens to him when the wife goes back to Egypt?

She likely had a travel permit, and she'll probably come back. If she happens to have a new Jihadi husband, the INS can piggy-back him on her permanent residency and give him legal status, too.

[Pa' fuera]

An Egyptian male, once rejected by the INS for permanent residency... and he's not on the FBI's watch list?

Obviously, family reunification outweighed any possible threat Hayadet may have posed.

[Greeklawyer]

Nothing.

INS is completly idiotic when it comes to marital visas.

As long as they stay maried the required two years, the immigrant keeps the visa. Even if two years and one day. INS does zero follow up.

[sarcasm]

Did you ping your Abogado friend?

[Kaslin]

If the son was born here in the States he would be a citizen, and the wife would be a citizen if she was naturalized. Having permanent residency does not mean you are a citizen . It only allows you to be legally here. You have to apply for citizenship

[kattracks]

Just a little misunderstanding about ticket reservations.

One of Hadayet's relatives tried to blame the shooting on an unpaid fare.

[Inkie]

Stay tuned for little Omar and Adam to show up wearing suicide belts in Tel Aviv.

[gg188]

...who received an immigration visa through the Department of States' Diversity Lottery Program... Does this just make ya wanna scream, or what?

Where does this insanity stop? I wonder how the families of the casualties feel upon reading this?

[L`enn]

Big red flag with these heathens. The family gets sent back to the nest for a "vacation", Papa Bear stays home. Big message they are gonna be in the headlines soon.