Somali Refugee and National Security

A federal judge took theunusual step last week of tripling the suggested sentence for a Somalicommunity leader convicted of immigration crimes, saying the harsher sentencewas justified because of national security concerns.

After Omar Abdi Mohameddeclined to make a statement to the court, U.S. District Judge John Houstonsentenced the self-described Muslim missionary to 18 months in prison. Mohamedhas already served two years while awaiting the outcome of his case.

Houston said he was departing from the sentencing guidelines because he was troubled by a comination of facts–in particular that a charity founded by Mohamed in San Diego received more than $300,000 from “specially designated global terrorist organizatins.” Houston noted that the money was then channeled by Mohamed to an unknown overseas location. The judge also was concerned about Mohamed’s conduct–from his work for the Saudi government to his extensive travel on just a $20,000 annual salary.

Mohamed, a Somali war refugee and father of eight who moved to the U.S. in 1995 from Canada, was never charged with terrorism. He was convicted in two trials of six felony charges that he lied on visa a naturalization applications. He was acquitted of more serious charges, particularly that he lied during a citizenship interview about his association with the two charities in question, Global Relief Foundation and the Al-Harmain, which the U.S. government has linked to terrorist fundraising.

Source:

San Diego

Union Tribune, Dec. 21, 2005

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