November 14, 2019, 07:33 PM
fpuhanHooray! The Good Guys Win One (or the bad guys lose one)
A federal judge ruled Thursday that an American-born woman who traveled to Syria to join the Islamic State (ISIS) group and now wants to return to her family in Alabama is not a U.S. citizen.
U.S. District Court Judge Reggie Walton dismissed a lawsuit brought by the family of Hoda Muthana to force the federal government to let her in the country.
Muthana, 25, currently lives with her 2-year-old son in a refugee camp in Syria and has since repudiated the terrorist group. A court motion said she and child, identified only as John Doe, were moved from the Roj refugee camp after receiving death threats from ISIS supporters and that their lives are in danger, The New York Times reported.
“The citizenship status of minor John Doe depends upon the status of Ms. Muthana; accordingly, regardless of the choices made by his mother, the health and survival of a young U.S. citizen depends upon the expeditious resolution of Ms. Muthana’s civil case,” the claim said.
In addition to dismissing a lawsuit, Walton also ruled that Muthana's father, Ahmed Ali Muthana, could not provide financial support to his daughter or grandson without being subject to charges of providing material support of terrorism.
Walton ruled that Ali Muthana, who formerly represented Yemen in the United Nations, is still a diplomat. Children born to diplomats are not granted automatic citizenship in the U.S.
Ali Muthana left his post before his daughter was born in 1994 in Hackensack, N.J., according to The Times. However, the federal government said it wasn't notified of the change until 1995 and stopped recognizing his diplomatic status only then.
Muthana's lawyer, Christina Jump, told BuzzFeed News that there was a "likely basis" to appeal Walton's ruling.
“While we are disappointed with and disagree with the court’s ruling today, this is not the end of our client’s legal options,” Jump said.
In 2014, Muthana withdrew from college and left her home in Alabama to travel to Syria after being radicalized by ISIS online. She promoted the group's ideology on social media and called on Muslims to commit attacks in America, such as drive-by shootings and attempts to assassinate former President Barack Obama.
She has since apologized for her actions and said she wishes to return to the U.S. In February, Muthana said she wanted to come home even if it meant facing charges. Her passport was canceled in 2016 under the Obama administration.
"I was really young and ignorant," Muthana said in an interview with the Guardian. "I believe that America gives second chances. I want to return, and I’ll never come back to the Middle East. America can take my passport and I wouldn’t mind.”
The case became politically-charged as it gained widespread notoriety.
The State Department had said she wasn't a citizen, and President Trump ordered Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to let her in the country.
The judge said he received thousands of messages mostly "spewed with hate" and threats against him if he ruled in Muthana's favor. He described them as failed attempts to "intimidate the court."
The story here.
November 14, 2019, 08:14 PM
gearhoundsFuck her. The first instant she called for attacks on Americans, she became too toxic to allow into this country. She made bed with ate and violence; had ISIS kept flourishing she would undoubtedly still be a staunch supporter. The only reason she wants back in is because she backed a losing team and wants out. Too bad for the child, but she determined his path as surely as her own.
Reap the whirlwind.
November 14, 2019, 09:22 PM
mesabiYup, Muthana can rot in her refugee camp. What I really want to know is who's paying for her attorney. THAT"S the person or group I'd really be pissed at.
November 14, 2019, 10:21 PM
Il CattivoThere's an article from last February's lawfareblog.com that does a good job of explaining the law that eventually underlay the decision and how things played out the way they did.
http://www.lawfareblog.com/hod...patriation-us-and-ukNovember 15, 2019, 12:10 AM
dsiets^^^
quote:
She ultimately entered into three arranged marriages during her time with the Islamic State. Her first two husbands were killed fighting in Syria and Iraq, and she divorced the third husband after a brief period.
quote:
Muthana has expressed deep regret for her actions, saying she “didn’t appreciate or maybe even really understand how important the freedoms that we have in America are.” “To say that I regret my past words, any pain that I caused my family and any concerns I would cause my country would be hard for me to really express properly.”
November 15, 2019, 06:17 AM
kramdenHey Muthana……...Enjoy!
November 15, 2019, 06:41 AM
Elk HunterWhat's that old expression about making beds and . . . . ?
Too bad about the kid, but as I understand it, the kid has no claim to any right to be in this country.
How many people did she injure, kill, or cause to be killed?
Now all we have to do is watch for her to sneak in over out southern border.
Maybe Soros will help her out.
November 15, 2019, 08:38 AM
.38supersig