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April 16, 2009

Jurors Criticize Deportation Proceedings Against Egyptian Student
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In Florida, four jurors who acquitted an Egyptian student of explosives
charges earlier this month have condemned a US government attempt to
deport him, apparently on the same allegations. Youssef Megahed was
arrested just three days after a Tampa jury found him not guilty of
possessing explosives that could be used for building a destructive bomb
or rocket. He’s now being held in an immigration jail. Megahed is a
legal permanent resident here in the United States. He’s lived here
since he was eleven years old with his family. In a statement, the
jurors said the government is putting Megahed in “double jeopardy.” They
continued, “More troublesome is the government’s seeming blatant
disregard for the will of its own people.”



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