ICE has arrested Marwan Marouf, a prominent Muslim leader in Dallas, TX. The 54-year-old is currently serving as director of public relations and fundraising for the Muslim American Society (MAS). He faces deportation due to accusations that he provided financial support to a Hamas-associated organization.
The arrest stemmed from charges related to his alleged donations to entities considered tied to terrorism under current US law. While in Dallas, Marouf entered on June 5, 2009, and held a non-immigrant visa until February 12, 2011. According to ICE reports, he remained past the required departure date.
Upon arrest, Marwan was charged with violating immigration terms by failing to leave as stipulated after entering in Dallas on June 5, 2009. This charge led to a notice for his appearance before an Immigration Judge (IJ). The IJ cited accusations regarding donations and linked Hamas, denying any possibility of voluntary departure.
His legal team contests the charges, arguing that retroactive labeling under post-9/11 legal frameworks is being unfairly applied without sufficient evidence. They maintain no criminal record or contemporary proof exists for their client’s case.
Marwan Marouf has allegedly donated to groups deemed Hamas fronts by US authorities, including the Holy Land Foundation (HLF). The HLF was shut down in 2008 as the largest American Muslim charity until then; it is now known that this Richardson nonprofit acted as a front for Hamas. This organization’s very inception supported Hamas.
Furthermore, he has familial connections to Ghassan Elashi through marriage or association, who was also convicted around that time period in relation to HLF and other matters involving Hamas ties via different entities like Infocom which operated under the guise of legitimate business facilitating Hamas activities years prior.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), specifically its Texas branch led by Mustafaa Carroll calling Marwan a “pillar” of their community, has also been designated as a foreign terrorist organization in recent history according to state actions. Governor Greg Abbott played a role designating CAIR among other groups linked explicitly or implicitly to terrorism including the Muslim Brotherhood which maintains global connections through offshoots like Hamas.
Marwan’s attorney emphasizes that the government is targeting individuals based on pre-9/11 activities under stricter post-PATRIOT Act definitions and later terrorist designations, implying a legal basis application beyond what occurred then. They assert there is no actual crime being prosecuted in relation to Marwan specifically under these circumstances.
