April 3 (UPI) -- Federal immigration authorities have arrested the head of Wisconsin's largest Islamic organization, the Trump administration announced Thursday, as it defends its detention of Salah Salem Sarsour, saying he allegedly lied on an immigration form about a previous conviction.
Sarsour, 53, has been the volunteer president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee for the last five years. His organization said he was "abducted" by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers as he left his home on Monday.
His arrest comes as the Trump administration continues its aggressive immigration crackdown and is drawing condemnation from Muslim leaders and Democrats, some accusing the federal government of targeting Sarsour because of his religion and his support for Palestine.
In a statement announcing his arrest on Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security accused Sarsour of funding terror organizations, though no evidence was provided. It also accused him of lying on his immigration application.
The DHS said Sarsour had been arrested and convicted for throwing a Molotov cocktail at homes of Israeli armed forces and attempting to possess weapons and ammunition. His initial immigrant visa application at the American Consulate in Jerusalem was denied due to his criminal record, it said.
