Zahid Chaudry Lied About Criminal History to Immigration

"Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry served our country and was taking the lawful steps toward citizenship. Detaining him in that process is unjust and undermines faith in the system. This administration's immigration enforcement is targeting our neighbors, friends, and even veterans rather than focusing on real public safety threats.

Sources at the Department of Homeland Security told Fox that Chaudhry entered the country on a B-2 tourist visa and then was granted a green card. After officials discovered he previously lied to immigration officials about his criminal past, the ...

Interrogé par franceinfo sur ces profils mentionnés par la presse dès 2024, un député du RN estimait début février que "critiquer l'immigration, ce n'est pas être une 'brebis galeuse'".

She said Chaudhry was told he would not be getting his citizenship anytime soon as a result. “Intelligence work was to throw somebody under the bus, give them a name, and he said, ‘No.’ He said he didn't want the money, he didn't want the job. He was not going to ruin someone's life like that, an innocent person,” she said. “That violated his moral code, and he wouldn't do it.” · RELATED: Under Trump’s ICE, people without criminal history increasingly targeted in WA

Melissa Chaudhry, Mr. Chaudhry’s wife, said, in a statement: “The US Attorney herself apologized directly to the Court and to my husband, for wrongly detaining him. This was a clear instance of standing up to a bully, and we won. Zahid will be released today.

Before 9/11, immigration was processed under the Department of Labor. Now, it's under the Department of Homeland Security. So that shift from recognizing people who want to contribute to America’s workforce versus processing people as threats — that mindset shift became structural quickly. ... Zahid: Most of the people in detention were in the blue group, the people who have no criminal record, like me.

In August 2008, an immigration judge denied Chaudry’s application for naturalization.

Agents detained Chaudry over allegations that he had lied on his original visa application, omitting five counts of financial deception, possession of stolen goods and falsifying passports in cases in Australia.

Chaudhry's detention comes amid an immigration crackdown under the Trump administration, with the president having pledged to launch the largest mass deportation operation in United States history. Immigrants residing in the country both illegally and legally, with valid documentation such as green cards and visas, as well as those with criminal histories, have been detained.

In his application, he noted he had a criminal conviction for fraud in Australia, where he lived before moving to the U.S., related to using a passport and credit card that wasn't his, according to court records.

Chaudhry applied for citizenship after he was discharged from his military service, and he disclosed that he had a prior criminal conviction in Australia for using a false passport and credit card.

She said, ‘We apologize to the petitioner and we apologize to the court,'" said Melissa Chaudhry, Zahid Chaudhry's wife. ... When we previously asked the Department of Homeland Security why he was detained, they told us Chaundhry hid his criminal history from the U.S.