Gov. Mikie Sherrill visits a mosque led by an imam with alleged ties to Hamas
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New Jersey Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill He attended a Ramadan service at a Paterson mosque led by an Imam who fought deportation for years because of ties to Hamas.
Sherrill posted photos of her visit to the Islamic Center of Passaic County on social media, wearing a hijab and taking selfies. In another photo, he is seen talking to the mosque’s long-time leader, Imam Mohammad Qatanani.
“Thank you to the Islamic Center of Passaic County for welcoming me to join their celebration as the holy month of Ramadan comes to an end,” he wrote. “I wish our Muslim neighbors a safe, happy, and peaceful Eid al-Fitr.”
Qatanani, a Palestinian-born cleric, has been at the center of a decades-long immigration battle after authorities sought to deport him, citing alleged ties to Hamas and allegations that he failed to disclose his previous arrests in Israel. He denied those allegations, saying he was arrested but not convicted.
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New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill attends Eid services with the Muslim community of New Jersey, according to a post on Friday, March 20, 2026. (Mikie Sherrill/X)
As Fox News previously reported, the federal government removed Qatanani from the US in the mid-2000s, saying he lied on his green card application and raised national security concerns related to Israeli records.
An immigration judge ruled in Qatanani’s favor in 2008, finding the government’s evidence unreliable and not commenting on Israeli court documents used to support the allegations, according to court records. The judge also found that the government did not present evidence that Qatanani was involved in terrorism.
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New Jersey Governor Mikey Sherrill attends Eid services with the Muslim community of New Jersey, according to the post on Friday, March 20, 2026. (Mikie Sherrill/X)
Court records also raised concerns about the credibility of statements made by Qatanani, including whether they may have been obtained under duress. Subsequent decisions over the years continued to favor him.
An appeals court eventually blocked his deportation in 2025, saying immigration officials had acted improperly in trying to change his legal status.
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I [Board of Immigration Appeals] “exceeded its authority when it attempted to reverse Qatanani’s amendment to the LPR by using agency law in a manner inconsistent with the procedures set forth by Congress,” the court wrote.
The decision focuses on the legal process rather than resolving the underlying allegations, finding that the authorities failed to follow the necessary procedures after missing the deadlines to appeal the important decision granting him permanent residency.
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It is unclear whether Sherrill was aware of Qatanani’s legal history when he visited. Fox News Digital has reached out to the governor’s office for comment.
