Posted on 12/20/2007 3:50:20 PM PST by 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-
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
a glimpse of sanity
Ten bucks says he’s now looking at coming across from Mexico.
probably already here, chatting with somebody in an ACLU office
When will we declare the ACLU unlawful and terroristic?
and obviously they should not be called “American Civil’ anything since they support non Americans
The government should have no obligation to refuse entry unless refusing entry conflicts with laws passed by our Congress.
Muslim scholar - - Jihadi that can read and write.
gotta love it when they use our own laws against us!
Bush appointee. Actually believes in the separation of powers. Nice!
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.
"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
Finally! Thanks for the good news ping RDTF.
Since when do foreigners have a right to a US visa? That’s crazy!
Holy crap! This is from a federal judge? Hell hasn't frozen over but it must at least be a few degrees cooler.
bump
Is he a Republican appointee?
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.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.