Hasan, a Kuwaiti citizen, received his masters in mathematics from California State University (CSU) at Long Beach, and proceeded to teach in the math department at the same institution.

In 2002 Hasan began work at Cerritos College in Orange County. On April 23 of that year, said Hasan, he was fired by the dean of Math, Engineering and Science, who stated he was “ordered to relieve” Hasan. Ten minutes later Hasan was arrested by two Long Beach city police and two agents of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) now reorganized under the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement allegedly for violation of his work visa because he was not currently employed. His visa was still valid until December 2002.

“It was a set up,” said Hasan. “I was employed, teaching in my classroom that same morning.” The INS officers proceeded to search his home without a warrant and then jailed him. He spent three weeks in Mira Loma Detention Center near Lancaster without a court hearing or bail set.

His lawyers obtained a court date, and soon after his release from police custody, said Hasan, he received a visit from FBI and INS agents. His house was searched, and, “They asked me about my political opinions, what I thought about the government of Kuwait and the Kuwaiti people, and whether I knew any of the September 11 hijackers.” He was then arrested and jailed again for three months. Charges were finally dropped in August 2002, said Hasan.

In January of this year, authorities announced they were starting deportation proceedings against Hasan for violation of his work visa, which had expired a month earlier. Because of the pending INS case against him, Hasan had been unable to renew his visa or find employment.

A number of organizations have backed his fight against deportation thus far. He continues to seek support prior to his deportation hearing. Hasan has asked his backers to show up in solidarity at the hearing, scheduled for October 20 at 1:00 p.m. at the immigration court in Los Angeles, 606 South Olive St., 14th floor, Department F.  
 
 
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