Imam freed after three-month hold
A New Mexico Muslim spiritual leader detained by immigration authorities for more than three months — despite a judge’s order that he be released on bail — was freed on Friday.
Faced with a federal lawsuit by his attorney, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement released Imam Tahla Elsayed on $10,000 cash bail and the condition that he wear an ankle monitor and meet other reporting requirements.
Elsayed, New Mexico’s only imam, was arrested by Homeland Security Investigations on Sept. 1 in Albuquerque and held in an El Paso immigration detention center.
In court documents, federal authorities voiced national security concerns about Elsayed, a Saudi-
born Egyptian national, but an immigration judge ruled Nov. 1 that he was neither a danger to the community nor a flight risk and should be released on bail. ICE initially refused to accept release, citing the government’s security concerns.
ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“Although I am disappointed that it took a federal lawsuit to get the Department of Homeland Security to obey an immigration judge’s order, I am happy with the result and their decision to reverse course,” said Olsi Vrapi, an Albuquerque immigration attorney representing Elsayed. “I’m happy that my client has been released and will be reunited with his family.”
Elsayed had been a volunteer lecturer at Albuquerque’s Dar Al-Salam mosque for about a year and was seeking a change in status that would allow him to work in New Mexico.
He remains in removal proceedings pending the resolution of his petitions to remain in the country, including an asylum claim and a request for religious worker status.
Homeland Security charged him with overstaying his tourist visa, despite his pending applications with immigration authorities.
Elsayed has a wife and four children in Albuquerque and is the only imam in New Mexico.