I thought we wanted Al Qaeda members

[Jeanette in FL]

http://www.commonvoice.com/article.asp?colid=6561

Al Qaeda Associate with Child Rape Conviction to Be Deported
Jim Kouri
January 17, 2007


A convicted felon who attempted to establish an Al Qaeda terrorist training facility in Oregon will be deported in the coming days.

Semi Osman, 35, a native of Sierra Leone, was ordered deported by Immigration Judge Kenneth Josephson last Friday. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation officers, last week ICE prevailed in its legal effort to obtain a deportation order for this convicted felon who was actively involved in creating a terrorist training camp in south-central Oregon.
A former resident of Tacoma and Bly, Oregon, Osman, first caught the attention of authorities in December 1999 when a police officer stopped his vehicle near because of a malfunctioning brake light.

snip~

He was subsequently convicted of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He also entered into a fraudulent marriage to obtain a "green card."
After serving time in federal prison on the firearms charge, Osman was later convicted of sexual abuse of a 10-year-old child and served time in the Walla Walla State Penitentiary. Following his release, he was required to register as a sex offender.

"ICE will not stand by and allow the United States to become a haven for those who put the safety of our citizens at risk," said Dorothy Stefan, Chief Counsel for ICE in Seattle. "Those who are convicted of serious crimes are not welcome in this country."

Great that they got him on the sexual abuse of a 10 year old, but to deport him because of it boggles my mind. I thought they would be glad to have them in their midst. Somehow, I think we will hear the name, Semi Osman, 35, a native of Sierra Leone, again, when he returns to the United States to do whatever it was he came here to do in the first place before he was arrested

[hughee99]

1. It sounds like he was convicted and served his time

If they can't hold him any longer, they can either let him remain in this country or deport him.

[Jeanette in FL]

2. More on this guy

AL QAIDA IN THE RANKS? Noncitizen (Naval) reservist suspected of ties to terrorist network
Navy Times | July 29, 2002 | Christopher Munsey & Patricia Kime

The al-Qaida terrorist network may have infiltrated the U.S. Navy – getting access to bases, uniforms, refueling procedures and more.


Federal authorities in the Seattle area are holding a drilling Naval reservist, a non-U.S. citizen, suspected of having ties to Islamic radicals with known connections to al-Qaida.


Construction Mechanic 3rd Class Semi Osman, 32, was arrested May 17 at his home in Tacoma, Wash., on charges of illegally trying to become a U.S. citizen and possession of a handgun whose serial number was “obliterated or altered,” according to court documents.


Osman pleaded not guilty at a June 5 arraignment before Magistrate Judge John Weinberg. He faces a jury trial before U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Ziley on Aug. 12 in Seattle.


A federal official said Osman could receive a maximum of 10 years in prison on the immigration charge if convicted, and up to 5 years for the weapons charge.


Okay, so he plead not guilty in 2002, could receive 10-15 years for the charges and less than 5 years later, he is being deported. Something is not adding up in my head.