"Kill by any means": Jordan-born Texas resident sentenced to 30 years on terrorism charges

He was arrested and taken into custody at the Dallas Fort Worth International airport where he attempted to board a flight to Amann, Jordan and now this 42-year old Dallas, Texas resident will spend 30 years in prison after being convicted on terrorism charges.

From the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Texas:

A 42-year-old Dallas, Texas, man has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison following a conviction for multiple terrorism charges.

Following a three-and-a-half day trial, Said Azzam Mohamad Rahim, a 42-year-old United States citizen, was convicted in May of one count of conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO), one count of attempting to provide material support to an FTO, and six counts of making false statements involving international terrorism to federal authorities.

“Rahim spread the violent message of ISIS online,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers.  “He also attempted to travel to support ISIS and then lied to FBI when questioned about his activities.  This sentence is the consequence of his criminal activities and a clear message to others who would consider following in his footsteps: don’t.” 

 “Mr. Rahim embraced a warped ideology on social media, promoting violence against innocent people, including Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox for the Northern District of Texas.  “The Justice Department is committed to combatting terror at home and abroad.”

According to evidence presented at trial, Rahim moderated a social media channel dedicated to recruiting fighters for the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, or ISIS, a State Department designated terror group.  

Rahim used Zello, a push-to-talk direct messaging application, to promote violence in ISIS’s name, prosecutors said.

Records showed he spent years on Zello’s “State of the Islamic Caliphate” channel, where he touted acts of terror under various monikers: 

“Kill and do not consult anyone,” he said in July 2016.  “Kill by any means, smash his head on the wall, spit in his face, burn -- I mean anything, anything – poison, anything.” 

Read the rest here.

DeSantis, Cruz, Patrick attend White House roundtable on education choice

President Trump held a school choice round-table in the Cabinet Room yesterday at the White House. Invited participants included Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Texas US Senator Ted Cruz, Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, Utah US Senator Mike Lee, Education Secretary Betsy Devos, Special Advisor to the President and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.

President trump commented on the release of IG Horowitz compliance report and the Democrats destruction of the Rule of Law and the fundamental principles of our legal system.

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 9, 2019

THE PRESIDENT:  Okay, thank you very much.  The IG report just came out, and I was just briefed on it, and it’s a disgrace what’s happened with respect to the things that were done to our country.  It should never again happen to another President.  It is incredible.  Far worse than I would have ever thought possible.  And it’s — it’s an embarrassment to our country.  It’s dishonest.  It’s everything that a lot of people thought it would be, except far worse.

So I’m going to get some very detailed briefing — briefings.  But they are — it’s a very sad — it’s a very sad day when I see that; a very sad day when a lot of people see that.  They had no nothing.  It was concocted.  And you say what you want — that was a — probably something that’s never happened in the history of our country.

Pam Bondi, I think you were able to look at some of the report and can address a little bit of it very well, if you might say a few words.  I’d like to ask Kellyanne; I know you looked at it also.  Please.

MS. BONDI:  Sure, President.  You know, so many of us who are career law enforcement today are outraged.  And I think the American people really should be terrified that this could happen to you when we’re supposed to live in a society of integrity and honesty.

And this happened to the President — not just to the President.  You know, this should be a good day, but it’s not.  It’s a horrible day for the country that this could had happen to the President of the United States, that they could fabricate, falsify e-mails, lie, and omit exculpatory evidence in order to continue this witch hunt against the President of the United States.

And this is just the tip of iceberg.  Now we have the Durham investigation.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.  Kellyanne, please?

MS. CONWAY:  Mr. President, thank you.  I was the campaign manager during that time, and I would ask a simple question: Why no defensive briefing?  Why not contact the Trump campaign?  Why not contact candidate Trump or Governor Pence, or Governor Christie, who at the time was arranging for the intelligence briefings for candidate Trump and was a public servant, a government official at that time, as Governor of New Jersey, with a full intelligence security clearance to receive that type of information.

So you can’t blame people for feeling that it was unfair and that the fix was in.  And to think that perhaps people lied and spied and tried to subvert democracy just because they wanted someone else to win, or just because they have a different political point of view, that is not the way the world’s greatest democracy has been formed and can survive at a time such as this.

I will just repeat something that Attorney General Barr said today, Mr. President: that this was an intrusive investigation of the U.S. presidential campaign on the thinnest of suspicions.  And that is chilling language for any of us who want our government to work for us and not against us.

I only wish they had have come and informed us, Mr. President, and we could have had the knowledge and the wherewithal to act at that time, and not put the taxpayers through two-plus protracted years of nonsense.

Thank you, sir.

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, they fabricated evidence and they lied to the courts, and they did all sorts of things to have it go their way.  And this was something that we can never allow to happen again.

The report, actually — and especially when you look into it, and the details of the report — are far worse than anything I would have even imagined.  What they were doing and what they would have done if I didn’t make a certain move — a certain move that was a very important move because it would have been even worse, if that’s possible.  And they might have been able to succeed.

This was an overthrow of government.  This was an attempted overthrow.  And a lot of people who were in on it, and they got caught.  They got caught red-handed.  And I look forward to the Durham report, which is coming out in the not-too-distant future.  It’s got its own information, which is this information plus, plus, plus.

And it’s an incredible thing that happened, and we’re lucky we caught them.  I think I’m going to put this down as one of our great achievements.  Because what we found and what we saw never, ever should this happen again in our country.

With that, today we gather to discuss the urgent national priority that we’ve been working on so long and so hard: expanding education freedom through school choice so that every American child can get a great education.

We’re grateful to be joined by Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary Betsy DeVos, Senators Ted Cruz and Mike Lee, Representative Bradley Byrne, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Pennsylvania House Speaker Mike Turzai, Tennessee State Representative John DeBerry, and students, parents, and teachers from across the nation.  Some wonderful, brilliant students are with us.  And we’re going to be having a big session in a little while.

Read the rest here

Florida Senator Marco Rubio wants unvetted, unlimited supply of foreign nationals imported into America

The senior U.S. Senator from Florida is a co-sponsor of a bill that, if passed and signed into law would import unvetted foreign nationals in unlimited numbers from Syria and Iraq into the United States.

Senate Bill S.  2641, a bill to promote United States national security has a section labeled "Promoting Stability in Syria" that might encourage stability in THAT country, but create chaos and instability in communities and school districts in OUR country. 

The United States and most notably cities in the State of Florida are currently home to Congolese imported by refugee resettlement groups who, public records reveal, are not accustomed to attending school and cant get along with the other kids.

Then there's the Venezuelans in the Tampa Bay area who, again per public documents, expressed their intent to flout our laws and remain in Florida without lawful status and without documentation. 

Section 202 - United States Refugee Program Priorities of S 2641 allows for certain Syrians and Iraqis, and their family members to qualify for admission to the U.S. as refugees. Their numbers would not count towards any existing numerical limitation and "shall be deemed (aka no need for vetting of their background) to satisfy the requirements under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157) for admission to the United States."

So here's the deal with the Congolese in Florida.

Back in June this blog published a report titled " Uh-oh; Congolese refugees stressing Florida educational system" which disclosed comments from a Florida Department of Chlidren and Families Refugee Task Force meeting:

A service provider involved in resettling Congolese nationals in one Florida county recently explained a key issue facing the Tallahassee area is also facing school districts across the entire state, “especially those with Congolese refugees.” 

Documented in the minutes of a March 12, 2019 Refugee Task Force meeting held in Leon County, home of Tallahassee, the state capitol, comes this informative nugget from the state refugee services program director: 

“Patti Grogan, The Refugee Services Program Director made the first presentation to give the participants a historical perspective to the growth and status of the program during the past 15-20 years. This perspective was compared to the political events of the previous years to what is currently occurring during 2019. As services for refugees have only begun to take effect during the past 5 years in Leon County most participants did not have a frame of reference from previous years. 

She explained that the other refugee services programs in Florida have experienced a huge decrease in the numbers of new clients arriving in their counties. Ms. Grogan did confirm that many of the challenges and important issues facing refugees in Tallahassee are also being experienced around Florida especially those with Congolese refugees.”

What type of challenges and important issues were school district with Congolese refugees facing? A second presentation by Ms. Bilic from International Rescue Committee (IRC), the Comprehensive Refugee Services provider in the NW Region, Leon County followed up with:

“The educational system is feeling the stress with so many refugees in a few schools while working with those who have never attended school before while in refugee camps. 

As IRC reminds the participants that while addressing the important need of learning English in the schools, the students are struggling with reading and writing skills. Mr Beasley will focus his efforts on the tutoring needs of the children during both their R&P and Case Management involvement. The students are eager to go to school, but the older students often struggle at first with their social involvement. “

And what's up with the Venezuelans in Tampa who could care less about our legal system and the Rule of Law? 

In an article posted earlier this summer titled "Why Congress should not pass a TPS “amnesty” for Venezuelans" I again published an excerpt from a Florida DCF refugee task force meeting recap outling the arrogance of over 20,000 Venezuelans in the Tampa area who, according to Casa de Venezuela could give a hoot about our laws, proclaiming from on high that they'd stay anyway.

An announcement was made to 63 attendees of the Tampa Bay Area Refugee Task Force meeting held January 22, 2019. 

“…a brief announcement by Norma Reno, president of the Casa de Venezuela of Tampa Bay organization. She announced that there are currently over 20,000 from Venezuela in the Tampa Bay area. While some are seeking asylum, many are also concerned about being denied asylum and are staying in the community without documentation. Casa de Venezuela is offering English classes & civic classes to educate the community as well as support services for those in need. Task Force members will stay connected with this and other organizations serving those from Venezuela to ensure that they are aware of the services we can provide for those who qualify and are in need.

Yeah, well  Venezuelans currently in Florida should be worried about the denial of an asylum application, especially if their visa to enter the U.S. was obtained through fraud or their entry to the U.S. through misrepresentation. 

So, no more vetted and especially no more unvetted people imported into the country with our tax dollars. United States Senators want to help folks in Syria and Iraq--fine--- they can help them in their own back yard--over in Syria and Iraq and ONLY after ensuring all homeless and jobless American citizens are helped first.

BTW, that former American Airlines mechanic charged with sabotaging an airplane--the one denied bail because he was determined by a Federal court judge to be a flight risk--guess where he and his family are from?

 

Another aviation safety issue in Miami- this time it's bribery

A former Federal Aviation Administrator (FAA) safety inspector was sentenced to 75 months in prison after a jury convicted him of twenty-one criminal counts related to his participation in a bribery and fraud scheme, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Miami, Florida announced yesterday.

Over a three-year period Manuel R. Fernandez, 42, of Miami,served as a FAA Aviation Safety Inspector with the FAA South Florida Flight Standards District Office (“FSDO”). Patricia Suarez and Rolando Suarez were the co-owners, officers, and directors of AVCOM, a Miami aviation repair company, which was subject to the jurisdiction and official responsibility of the FAA South Florida FSDO.  

The evidence showed that, at the same time he was working for the FAA, Fernandez also held various positions at AVCOM, including Vice President of Operations.

Miami, Florida - In exchange for Patricia Suarez and Rolando Suarez corruptly providing over $150,000 in cash, as well as jewelry, a cruise, clothing, and approximately $15,000 funneled to Fernandez’s mother, Fernandez violated his lawful and official duties as an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector.  

Fernandez provided AVCOM with advanced notice and warnings as to pending FAA inspections of AVCOM, disclosed financial information about AVCOM’s competitors, and provided AVCOM with improperly obtained aviation repair manuals produced by original equipment manufacturers such as Honeywell and Delta, saving AVCOM from paying vast sums of money for this proprietary information.  

The evidence further showed that Fernandez provided materially false statements to the FAA and DOT in order to hide his participation in these AVCOM-related activities. Additionally, Fernandez submitted a fraudulent sick leave request to the FAA, utilizing a forged doctor’s note.

Read the rest here.

This conviction comes on the heels of County Examiners coverage here, here and here of the former American Airlines mechanic in Miami charged in Federal court with sabotage of an airline. 

A jury trial date is set for Abdul Majeed Marouf Ahmed Alani on December 9, 2019. The case is 1:19-cr-20603 in United States District Court, Southern District of Florida.

Ninth Circuit paves the way for implementing public charge statute, but....

Earlier this morning White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham issued a press release announcing the Ninth Circuit lifted two district court injunctions, paving the way for the Trump Administration implementation of a statute passed by Congress. For over a century that statute declared any alien who is likely to become a public charge is inadmissible to the United States.

However, two other nationwide injunctions issued by individual district court judges in New York and Maryland remain and those orders prevent the regulation from being applied anywhere—even in the Ninth Circuit. 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 6, 2019

Statement from the Press Secretary Yesterday, the Ninth Circuit lifted two district court injunctions and held that the Trump Administration should be able to enforce a regulation implementing a statute passed by Congress that has declared for over a century that any alien who “is likely at any time to become a public charge is inadmissible.”  The new regulation replaced guidance issued by the Clinton Administration in 1999 that had unduly narrowed the Federal statute.  The Ninth Circuit has rightly recognized the Administration's authority to adopt an interpretation of the “public charge” restriction more faithful to and consistent with the scope of the statute passed by Congress. Unfortunately, as a practical matter, the ruling has accomplished nothing to vindicate the rule of law due to the destructive practice of individual district judges taking over national policy issues by issuing nationwide injunctions.   Although the Ninth Circuit lifted the two injunctions issued by district courts within the Ninth Circuit, two other nationwide injunctions have been issued by individual district judges in New York and Maryland—and those orders prevent the regulation from being applied anywhere—even in the Ninth Circuit.  In practical effect, nationwide injunctions give any district judge the power to tell a panel of a Federal court of appeals that its ruling does not matter and that it cannot affect the actual implementation of the law.  Such subversions of the rule of law must come to an end.  The judicial system must address the grave danger that nationwide injunctions present and ensure that district courts do not grossly overstep the role the Founders intended in our careful system of checks and balances.

Another illegal alien arrested in Florida- this time for brutal assault of Federal DHS agent

Florida Democrats fought with all their might against Governor Ron DeSantis's bill SB 168 banning sanctuary jurisdictions and requiring local and state law enforcement agencies and entities honor immigration detainer requests ban during the 2019 Legislative session. 

Not the 2018 case of the Fort Myers police officer shot and killed in the line of duty by an illegal alien visa-overstay nor the 2017 case of two paramedics in Jupiter killed by an illegal alien driver charged with the driving while intoxicated second degree felony death of the EMTs would sway the Democrats steadfast objections to the rule of law and supporting the lives of all Florida first responders and law enforcement.

Florida Democrats just didn't think law enforcement should cooperate with the Feds to remove dangerous illegal aliens from Florida communities; Governor DeSantis was right to push the Legislature to pass that bill.Opponents called it "one of the worst anti-immigrant laws in the country."

Now in just a few seven months after the Governor signed the bill into law comes ANOTHER illegal alien arrested in Florida only this time for the brutal assault of a federal agent.

Jorge Asencion Monge, 48 years old and an illegal alien living in Bonita Springs, Florida was arrested and booked into the Lee County jail on November 14, 2019 on charges of first degree felony assault on a federal Department of Homeland Security agent and second degree felony resisting arrest with violence. And YES, the jail booking records reflects he was subject to an ICE hold. 

According to the arrest record reviewed by County Examiner, the Lee County Sheriff's Office received a call for assistance from two Department of Homeland Security agents the evening of November 14. Due to an incident at a federal hearing that took place on an unknown date and regarding a fake identity the agents were out in the community to take Monge into custody.

The probable cause statement explains how Monge assaulted one of the DHS agents after also making a move for the agents firearm.

Think about it.

Monge HAD a prior interaction with law enforcement and that's when ICE should have taken him into custody--THATS why honoring immigration detainer requests with other jurisdictions in accordance with the rule of law and passing SB 168 was necessary.

Jones County prison finally opens 10 years after construction

The West Texas county borrowed in excess of $ 7 million dollars nearly ten years ago to construct a new prison at the request of the state of Texas and now the facility will finally open. 

In a press release dated December 3, 2019 Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) announced a new detention facility will open next week in Jones County, Texas.

ANSON, Texas — (emphasis mine)The field office director (FOD) for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) for Dallas, Texas, is announcing a new ICE detention facility that’s officially opening during the week of Dec. 9.

FOD Marc J. Moore explained that the new ICE facility was actually built in 2010 by the state of Texas to house inmates for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.  However, the facility has never been used. 

BBDC operates from an intergovernmental service agreement (IGSA) between ICE and Jones County, Texas.  The facility is managed by Management and Training Corporation (MTC), which will be overseen by ICE officers.  The new facility will house about 1,000 ICE detainees as they await the outcomes of their immigration proceedings, or their removal to their countries of origin.  IGSAs are contractual agreements made between government agencies. 

Most of the facility will house men; however, one separate section has been designated to house up to 72 women.  

BBDC has 25 housing units within about 100,000 square feet.  The 42-acre plot is big enough to easily accommodate expansion, if needed in the future.

According to bond disclosures of the Jones County Public Facility Corporation County Jail Project posted December 2, 2009 revenue bonds totaling $7,880,000 were issued by Jones County Public Facility Corporation, a nonprofit public corporation and instrumentality of Jones County, Texas.