Judge upholds Muslim scholar's U.S. entry ban

Reuters ^ | Christine Kearney

[RDTF]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. federal judge on Thursday upheld a government decision to refuse a prominent Swiss Muslim entry into the United States, saying the question of denying visas was best left to the authorities.

The United States had revoked the visa of Tariq Ramadan, an academic at Britain's Oxford University and a vocal critic of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and its support of Israel.

The State Department initially gave no reason, but later said Ramadan had been barred under a provision of the USA Patriot Act that bars anyone who endorses terrorism.

In October the American Civil Liberties Union denied this and argued Ramadan's exclusion was therefore unlawful.

But U.S. District Judge Paul Crotty sided with U.S. government lawyers who argued the courts did not have the power to review visa denials.

"The government has provided a facially legitimate and bona fide reason for Professor Ramadan's exclusion," Crotty said.

"The court recognizes the limits on its authority in this case. The question of admissibility of aliens is a political question, a question which is best left to the legislative and executive branches," he said.

Ramadan said he was told he had been barred because he gave 1,670 Swiss Francs ($1,946) to the Association de Secours Palestinien (ASP) from 1998 to 2002.

Washington banned ASP in 2003, saying it supports terrorism and had contributed funds to Hamas.

-snip-

[RDTF]

a glimpse of sanity

[diverteach]

Ten bucks says he’s now looking at coming across from Mexico.

[highnoon]

probably already here, chatting with somebody in an ACLU office

[Candor7]

Atta go Judge Paul Crotty. Finally we see the media report a judicial function properly executed.

[mtbopfuyn]

the American Civil Liberties Union denied this and argued Ramadan's exclusion was therefore unlawful

When will we declare the ACLU unlawful and terroristic?

[RDTF]

and obviously they should not be called “American Civil’ anything since they support non Americans

[untrained skeptic]

No foreigner has a right to enter the United States.

The government should have no obligation to refuse entry unless refusing entry conflicts with laws passed by our Congress.

[Beckwith]

Muslim scholar - - Jihadi that can read and write.

[B-Cause]

[RDTF]

gotta love it when they use our own laws against us!

[xroadie]

Bush appointee. Actually believes in the separation of powers. Nice!

[Candor7]

Yup, good old Tariq, layin' the jihad on the new generation. In Britain he advances the Islamofascist infrastructure, under the guise of evangelical Islam. Too bad they didn't let him into the USA, where he could have been taken alligator hunting in the Bayou's of Southern Florida.

[goldstategop]

A setback to the ACLU. The federal government has settled power to bar the entry of aliens into the United States for any reason or for no reason at all. Foreigners do not have a right to enter our country. They have a privilege and that privilege can be revoked if the national interest requires it.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Oorang]

a glimpse of sanity

Finally! Thanks for the good news ping RDTF.

[winner3000]

Since when do foreigners have a right to a US visa? That’s crazy!

[GATOR NAVY]

"The court recognizes the limits on its authority in this case. The question of admissibility of aliens is a political question, a question which is best left to the legislative and executive branches," he said.

Holy crap! This is from a federal judge? Hell hasn't frozen over but it must at least be a few degrees cooler.

[VOA]

bump

[SatinDoll]

Is he a Republican appointee?

[GATOR NAVY]

Appointed by G.W. Bush 2005. Apparently he hasn’t been in place long enough to “grow”, as the media describes any conservative’s slide to the left.