News

Hinchey bats for Mahmood

Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey, D-Hurley, has written a letter to the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement on behalf of detainee Ansar Mahmood.

Hinchey wrote the BICE Tuesday, saying that "as a result of numerous calls and letters that I have received from my constituents I am writing to you to express my interest in the above noted case."

Mahmood was a Hudson pizza delivery man arrested October 2001 on suspicion of terrorism. He was cleared of terror charges, but has remained in custody on a variety of lesser immigration charges.

His supporters have lobbied New York's federal representatives to take up Mahmood's cause, and to varying degrees U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, a Democrat, and John Sweeney, R-Clifton Park, have indicated some interest. Mahmood's biggest boost came from Congressman Charles Rangel, D-New York.

In January, Rangel said: "Last month after watching a Gabe Pressman piece on WNBC-TV regarding Mr. Mahmood's plight, it seemed to me that he was being dealt an injustice so I wrote his attorney offering to be of assistance to help resolve this matter. Pursuant to federal law and fairness to Mr. Mahmood, I call upon the federal government to exercise its authority and release Mr. Mahmood from custody in accordance with this request."

Schumer has dispatched staff to look into the case and Sweeney told the Register-Star he believes Washington has overreached on some immigration issues and a rethinking is in order.

Hinchey's letter further stated: "I stand alongside my other colleagues that have already contacted BICE and ask that you exercise discretion in this matter, given the tremendous outpouring of support around the country and abroad. I also ask that you take into consideration the time that Ansar has already spent in detention and the fact that he has no other criminal history."

"I figure a second congressman coming on is not an arithmetical but a geometric progression," said Bob Elmendorf of the Chatham Peace Intiative. "Once you get two people on something, one might be an anomaly or a stray, but once you get two people there's a momentum.

"I don't think these are going to be the last congresspeople coming to our cause on behalf of Ansar," he said. "You need pioneers to show the way, and that's what Hinchey and Rangle are doing."

Mahmood remains held in the Buffalo Federal Detention Center at Batavia, Genesee County, awaiting a BICE ruling.

He has requested deferred action on his deportation and release from detention under an order of supervision.

-- Bill Fallon