Islamic community cheers immigration court ruling

For 12 years, Imam Mohammad Qatanani has been a beloved and respected leader of the Islamic Center of Passaic County in Paterson. He's championed comity among the various religious communities of Passaic County. A man of peace and moderation, Qatanani's life and his work here could be symbolized by an olive branch.

Since May, hundreds of people have rallied in support of that man, as he faced a deportation hearing in U.S. Immigration Court in Newark. And it's that man who would have been sorely missed if he had lost his case.

But government lawyers and immigration officials maintained that there was a time in his life that Qatanani was a different man from the one who's garnered so much love and respect since he came to America in 1996 on a religious work visa. That man, government lawyers and officials said, had supported terrorism against Israel. American authorities maintained that in 1993 the native of Palestine was convicted by an Israeli military court in the West Bank of aiding Hamas, a long-time foe of Israel and a group the U.S. and Israeli governments have considered a terrorist organization.

U.S. authorities said Qatanani, who was detained for three months, had confessed. In 1999, the authorities continued, Qatanani didn't mention that conviction when he applied for permanent resident status in this country, a stark lie of omission that rendered him unfit to stay in America.

Qatanani and his counsel countered that he had not admitted to the conviction because he hadn't known it had occurred. Until U.S. officials told him otherwise, Qatanani said, he believed he'd suffered the indignity of a routine administrative detention based upon classified intelligence. The imam and his counsel said that any confession to alleged crimes resulted from his being tortured.

On Thursday, Alberto Riefkohl, a judge known for fairness and an exacting interpretation of the law, ruled Qatanani will be allowed to stay. Among other things, the judge said the government had not proved Qatanani had committed terrorist acts. Further, the judge said, the court "does not find that Mr. Qatanani willfully misrepresented a fact material in his application for adjustment status."

The ruling, which could be appealed, also applies to Qatanani's wife and three children who were born outside the U.S.

The long-awaited ruling also comes during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. It sparked tears and cheers from the imam's supporters.

Late last month, when his immigration ruling was postponed, Qatanani said he felt very strong. Instead of talking about his case, he pointed his supporters toward Ramadan. He told kneeling worshippers of Islam, "The gates of paradise are open."

For now, the door to a permanent life in America swings open for Qatanani. As he walks through, we lend our voice to those who cheer.

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