North Texas Muslim community leader Marwan Marouf will be deported to Jordan after an immigration judge rejected his request for voluntary departure, citing his past donations to the now-defunct Holy Land Foundation (HLF), which the U.S. government designated a terrorist organization following the September 11 attacks.
Judge Denies Voluntary Departure Request
Judge Abdias E. Tida rejected Marouf’s request for voluntary departure on Thursday because he found Marouf ineligible for federal voluntary departure due to the serious nature of the evidence presented in the case, which focused on his pre-2001 donations to HLF before it became a designated terrorist organization.
The Dallas resident, who has spent more than thirty years in the city, faced visa overstaying charges until DHS added new allegations about his terrorist organization funding activities.
The judge refused to grant voluntary departure to Marouf because he lacked the power to expedite deportation proceedings or provide medical assistance.
Holy Land Foundation and Community Role
The Holy Land Foundation operated as the biggest Muslim charity in America until 2001, when the U.S. government declared it a terrorist organization because of suspected Hamas funding connections.
The lawyers of Marouf defend his actions because he donated to HLF and volunteered before the organization received its terrorist designation.
Marouf has worked as the fundraising and public relations director for the Dallas chapter of the Muslim American Society (MAS) for a long time and has received multiple awards for his community work, including directing youth programs and serving as a Red Cross disaster-relief responder and volunteer. The Muslim-American Society operates as a national nonprofit organization that works to develop communities and advocate for their rights.
Legal and Community Response
Marouf’s attorneys say they will not appeal the decision, citing the urgency of his medical condition. However, the Muslim Legal Fund of America, which is representing Marouf, has criticized the government’s actions, stating that the use of past charitable donations to justify deportation sets a “dangerous precedent” and could punish entire communities for good-faith humanitarian efforts.
“Let us be clear: Marwan’s arrest and detention is pretextual and emblematic of this administration’s broader campaign to weaponize immigration law as a tool to silence Palestinians, their allies, and others whose viewpoints it finds inconvenient or threatening.”
— Muslim Legal Fund of America statement
Wider Implications
The Marouf case is part of a broader pattern of heightened scrutiny and deportation actions targeting individuals with historical links to Muslim charities, even when those links predate terrorism designations. Human rights advocates have raised concerns about due process and the risk of chilling legitimate charitable activities.
Marouf’s deportation is expected within two weeks, according to DHS, but no specific date has been set. His case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Muslim American leaders and the lasting impact of the Holy Land Foundation case on immigration and civil liberties.
As the process unfolds, Marouf’s situation continues to draw attention from civil rights groups and the Dallas Muslim community, which remains vocal in its support for him and its concerns about the precedent his deportation may set.