SEATTLE - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today announced that Majid Al-Massari, a Saudi Arabian citizen with links to an Al Qaeda front group, was recently deported to his native country. A ruling earlier this month by Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy cleared the way for Al-Massari's deportation.

ICE agents arrested Al-Massari in July 2004 for overstaying his visa while he was living in Seattle and working for the University of Washington School of Nursing. He also had a prior criminal conviction for attempted possession of crack cocaine.

Al-Massari is a member of the Committee for the Defense of Legitimate Rights (CDLR), an Islamist organization based in London that seeks to overthrow the Saudi government. The U.S. government recognizes CDLR as a front group for Al Qaeda. While living in the United States, Al-Massari solicited funds and helped administer the CDLR website.

Since his 2004 arrest, Al-Massari has fought deportation from the United States in the legal system. His case has been heard in immigration court where the judge issued a deportation order. The Board of Immigration Appeals has also considered his case and upheld the immigration court's order for removal.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled on two separate occasions that nothing prevented ICE from deporting Al-Massari. The Supreme Court ruled in January 2007 that there was no legal impediment blocking his removal.

"This individual's removal from the United States is another victory for ICE in its continuing effort to restore integrity to the nation's immigration system and protect the community," said Dorothy Stefan, chief counsel for ICE in Seattle. "ICE will use all of the tools at its disposal to prevent foreign nationals from using this country as a haven to advance the aims of terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda."

Despite his removal from the United States, a petition for review from Al-Massari is pending before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

-- ICE --