(Syracuse.com) A Syracuse man with Iraqi citizenship is facing at least five years in prison for allegedly lying to immigration officials about his association with an Iran-backed militia as part of his application for a green card here, according to the United States Attorney’s Office.
Chasib Hafedh Saadoon Al Fawadi, 35, has been in the United States since roughly early 2016 after applying for refugee status while in Turkey. He claimed he and his family faced persecution in Iraq because he refused to help Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, a Shiite militia group, kidnap Sunni Muslims, according to a federal indictment.
Al Fawadi has lived in Syracuse since around January 2016. While here, he’s been subject to additional screenings and interview[s] with officials from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service[s].
