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The Associated Press
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NEWARK, N.J. -
An influential New Jersey Muslim leader accused by some federal officials of having terrorist ties but praised by others as being an important ally won his fight to gain permanent U.S. residency Thursday.A federal immigration judge in Newark ruled that Mohammad Qatanani, the spiritual leader of the Islamic Center of Passaic County, can remain in the U.S.The ruling brought cheers, tears and applause from about a dozen Qatanani supporters who gathered in the courtroom.U.S. immigration authorities had sought to deport Qatanani on grounds that he failed to disclose on his "green card" application a prior arrest and conviction in Israel for being a member of Hamas -- a group classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. Qatanani has denied being a Hamas member.
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