Gov. Mikie Sherrill visits mosque led by imam with alleged Hamas ties

Sherrill posted photos of her visit to the Islamic Center of Passaic County on social media, wearing a hijab and taking selfies. In one image, she is seen speaking with the mosque’s longtime leader, Imam Mohammad Qatanani.

“Thank you to the Islamic Center of Passaic County for inviting me to participate in their celebration as the holy month of Ramadan comes to an end,” she wrote. “I wish our Muslim neighbors a safe, joyful and peaceful Eid al-Fitr.”

Qatanani, a cleric of Palestinian descent, is at the center of a decades-long immigration battle after federal authorities sought to deport him, citing alleged ties to Hamas and saying he failed to disclose his prior detention in Israel. He denied the allegations, saying he had been detained but never convicted.

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New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill attends Eid services with New Jersey’s Muslim community, according to a Friday, March 20, 2026 article. (Mikie Sherrill/X)

As Fox News previously reported, the federal government moved to expel Qatanani from the United States beginning in the mid-2000s, arguing that he had made false statements on his green card application and raising national security concerns related to Israeli records.

An immigration judge ruled in Qatanani’s favor in 2008, finding the government’s evidence unreliable and giving little weight to Israeli court documents used to support the allegations, according to court records. The judge also ruled that the government had not proven that Qatanani was involved in terrorist activities.

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New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill attends Eid services with New Jersey’s Muslim community, according to a Friday, March 20, 2026 article. (Mikie Sherrill/X)

Court records further raised concerns about the reliability of statements attributed to Qatanani, including whether they were obtained under coercive conditions. Over the years, subsequent decisions continued to favor him.

A federal appeals court ultimately blocked his deportation in 2025 after immigration authorities acted inappropriately in attempting to revoke his legal status.

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THE [Board of Immigration Appeals] exceeded its authority when it attempted to overturn Qatanani’s adjustment to LPR status by using an agency regulation in a manner inconsistent with procedures established by Congress,” the court wrote.

The ruling focused on the legal process rather than resolving the underlying allegations, finding that federal authorities failed to follow required procedures after missing deadlines to challenge a key decision granting him permanent residency.

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It is unclear whether Sherrill was aware of Qatanani’s legal history at the time of his visit. Fox News Digital has reached out to the governor’s office for comment.