A United States immigration judge has ruled that a Palestinian-born mosque leader is subject to deportation, declaring him a "foreign policy threat" in a decision that removes him from the US after more than two decades in the country.

The case concerns an imam who was born in the Palestinian territories and went on to lead a mosque in the United States. The judge's finding that he constitutes a foreign policy threat forms the legal basis for the deportation order.

The ruling closes a chapter in a prolonged immigration proceeding. The mosque leader had lived in the United States for many years and had become a established religious figure in his community before the deportation case against him advanced.

Under US immigration law, the government can seek removal of a non-citizen on foreign policy grounds. A judge's determination that an individual meets that threshold opens the path to deportation, subject to any appeals the respondent may file.

The Times of India, which reported the decision, describes the judge's characterization of the imam as a "foreign policy threat" as the central finding in the case.

For immigrants in similar proceedings, the case illustrates how foreign policy considerations can factor into removal decisions alongside more conventional grounds such as visa violations or criminal convictions. Non-citizens facing deportation proceedings retain the right to contest removal before an immigration judge and to appeal adverse decisions to the Board of Immigration Appeals.

Individuals with questions about their own immigration status should consult a qualified immigration attorney or refer to official guidance from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).