A US immigration judge has ruled that the United States can deport the leader of Wisconsin's largest mosque on foreign policy grounds, rejecting the imam's bid to remain in the country.

The decision, reported by the Boston Herald, centers on the head of the state's largest Muslim congregation. The judge found that US authorities may lawfully remove him on the basis of foreign policy considerations, a legal standard that does not require evidence of criminal conduct.

Under US immigration law, the government can pursue deportation when the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe an individual's presence may have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences. This provision allows removal without a criminal conviction, a point that has drawn scrutiny from civil liberties advocates in similar cases.

The case has attracted attention because of the profile of the individual involved. As the leader of Wisconsin's largest mosque, he serves a substantial Muslim community in the state. Congregants and supporters have followed the proceedings closely, arguing that the government has not produced evidence of wrongdoing.

The ruling means the deportation process can move forward unless the imam's legal team appeals or secures other forms of relief. Immigration judges' decisions can be challenged before the Board of Immigration Appeals, and federal courts review subsequent outcomes.

Foreign policy-based deportation grounds have been used sparingly in recent US practice, and cases involving religious leaders test the boundaries between executive discretion in diplomacy and protections afforded to non-citizens living in the United States.

The judge's decision does not itself execute a removal. It establishes that the legal basis exists for deportation, leaving open the timeline and logistics of any actual removal, as well as any further legal challenges.

Readers following this case should monitor official court filings and statements from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Executive Office for Immigration Review for authoritative updates on the status of the proceedings.