Department of Justice Seal Department of Justice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2002
WWW.USDOJ.GOV
CIV
(202) 514-2008
TDD (202) 514-1888

STATEMENT OF BARBARA COMSTOCK, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS,
ON THE HADDAD ASYLUM DECISION:


"The Justice Department is pleased an Immigration Judge today denied Rabih Haddad's application for asylum and withholding of removal, concluding that he presents ‘a substantial risk to the national security of the United States.’ The Immigration Judge found that Haddad has ‘direct and nascent ties to the Global Relief Foundation,’ an organization designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the Department of Treasury. Global Relief Foundation has received funding from individuals associated with al Qaeda and has connections to Wadih el Hage, an individual linked to the 2001 bombings of United States embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. The Immigration Judge further ordered him and his family removed from the United States.

"The safety and security of the American people are the highest priority of the Justice Department. We will continue to dedicate all efforts to using every constitutional tool available to protect our citizens."

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