Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on Wednesday with questions about the status of an Iraqi refugee, Abdullatif Ali Aldosary. Aldosary is the prime suspect in a bombing on Friday, November 30, 2012, of the Social Security office in Casa Grande.
Shortly after the bombing, Congressman Gosar expressed his gratitude that no one was hurt but said, “This bombing shook downtown Casa Grande including my congressional office, just two blocks away. The alleged bomber, Abdullatif Aldosary, is an Iraqi refugee who was given the privilege to live in our country, but has apparently repaid our generosity and kindness with repeated violence and aggression. The FBI reports the use of a high explosive called ‘RDX’ that is often used in terrorist plots. It is my expectation that this case will be fully investigated and the full weight of law enforcement brought to bear. The recent bombing in Casa Grande reminds us that we have to all have a responsibility to be vigilant and to alert authorities of any threats in our communities.”
Aldosary contacted Gosar’s office requesting help in obtaining permanent residency last year. At the time, Gosar’s office contacted Homeland Security, which responded in a letter that Aldosary’s case had been put on hold “pursuant to the terrorism-related grounds of inadmissibility” under a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Yesterday, Gosar wrote DHS asking for an explanation of Aldosary’s immigration status. It is unknown whether Aldosary has a temporary visa or has refugee status. Gosar wants to know why an Iraqi native charged with detonating a homemade explosive device outside a federal building hadn’t been deported despite his criminal history and being denied citizenship. Gosar’s chief legal counsel, Thomas Van Flein, said Aldosary should have been deported promptly if he was denied citizenship due to terrorism-related activity.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, Aldosary was previously arrests on harassment charges and a probation violation in Maricopa County. Those offenses were not considered deportable offenses.
Law enforcement officials said Aldosary had researched bomb-making materials and gathered chemicals before detonating a small explosive outside the Social Security Administration office in Casa Grande.
In the letter to DHS, Gosar’s counsel Van Flein wrote, “But for the grace of God, no one was injured in the bombing,” Van Flein wrote in the letter to Homeland Security. “It appears to the congressman that a known terrorist was allowed to travel freely in Arizona and was allegedly able to engage in terrorism more than a year after DHS had already determined he engaged in terrorism activity.”
Authorities found documents explaining how to build a bomb hidden behind a picture in the search of Aldosary’s home in Coolidge. Authorities also seized a handgun and rifle as well as hundreds of rounds of ammunition and several gallons of chemicals that could be used to make a bomb, according to court documents.