Newsday.com
Schumer supports release of immigrant
March 17, 2004, 3:28 PM EST
Ansar Mahmood, a pizza deliveryman from this small Hudson River city, was
questioned by authorities after taking pictures by a hillside reservoir about a
month after the terror attacks.
Mahmood, 26, said he was taking scenic shots to send to his family in Pakistan
and no terror-related charges were filed against him.
But investigators found he co-signed an apartment lease and registered a car
for an area Pakistani couple with expired visas. He was convicted in January
2002 of illegally harboring aliens and ordered deported.
As Mahmood fought deportation from a federal detention facility in western New
York, his case became a symbol to critics who felt authorities improperly
rounded up immigrants after the terror attacks.
Schumer said Wednesday he had sympathy for Mahmood.
"I believe we need to do everything within reason to defend our nation and
crack down on terrorism, but this is not a terrorism case," Schumer said.
"Ansar Mahmood has been fully investigated by the FBI and it's determined
that he is not a threat to the United States. There is not a compelling case
for him to be deported."
The senator said he supported the "supervised release" sought by
Mahmood, under which he would avoid deportation and check in regularly with the
Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Mahmood's request was made in January to bureau officials, who did not
immediately return a request for comment Wednesday.