NEWARK -- An immigration officer assigned to investigate the case of Imam Mohammad Qatanani testified Friday that the government has viewed the Paterson cleric as a "special interest" for five years.
During morning testimony in Qatanani's deportation case, Agent Heather Philpott of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said that the cleric's application for a green card received a "terrorism hit" in 2002.
The hit, designated by the FBI, prompted immigration officials to conduct further research about the cleric.
Philpott, an agent in Newark for 24 years, ran checks on Qatanani in an interagency database used by government agencies.
Nothing came up on him, Philpott said.
"We ran the necessary databases, and they were negative," said Philpott, before Judge Alberto J. Riefkohl in the Newark immigration courtroom.
It was not discussed why the hit was created, though Philpott told the prosecution it could arise from visa discrepancies, terrorism threats and, on occasion, criminal convictions.
But authorities only learned about Qatanani's disputed arrest and conviction in Israel when he volunteered the information to authorities in 2005.
When prosecutors asked Philpott on Friday whether, based on her knowledge of the case, the cleric deserves permanent legal U.S. residency, she said no.
Prior to Philpott, Passaic County Sheriff Jerry Speziale, Bergen County Sheriff Leo McGuire and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles McKenna testified about the help the cleric has given to law enforcement agencies since 9/11.
Several religious leaders spoke about his help to foster interfaith dialogue.
Outside, supporters continued to gather in front of the courtroom for Qatanani.
For 12 years, he has served as the religious leader of the Islamic Center of Passaic County.
He is respected nationally for being a voice of moderation and condemnation of the terrorist attacks after 9/11.
Philpott was the government's last witness as part of the deportation case against Qatanani, his wife and three of his six children.
The imam and supporters left the courtroom around 1 p.m. to pray in a nearby Newark mosque with supporters. The testimony will resume testimony on Monday with the defense calling expert witnesses about the Israeli military court system.
