Muslim cleric in US court fighting against deportation

The leader of one of New Jersey's largest mosques is in court to fight from being deported after federal authorities say he lied on his green card application.



Imam Mohammad Qatanani, the leader of the Islamic Center of Passaic County, is appearing before an immigration court judge in Newark on Monday.



A judge ruled against immigration authorities' attempt to have him deported eight years ago. Federal officials say that he didn't disclose being convicted in Israel for being a member of Hamas.



Qatanani denies that he was ever part of the group classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. He says that he was only detained and never convicted.



Qatanani came to the U.S. from Jordan. He was born in the West Bank.