ICE deports Saudi national convicted of illegally entering military base
HOUSTON — Officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) on Thursday deported a Saudi national who was convicted of forcing his way onto a military installation causing the base to lockdown.
Mustasim Abdulaziz Alati, 24, was escorted by ERO officers and turned over to officials with the Saudi Arabia Ministry of the Interior (MOI) Feb. 12. Alati last entered the United States as a student Aug. 12, 2014 to attend the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.
On Nov. 23, Alati in his vehicle approached the entrance gate at Fort Sam Houston, a joint military base in San Antonio. Alati told the guards at the gate that he had a bomb. Then he forced his vehicle through the entry gate. The base was locked down for about four hours.
"ICE's top priority is removing aliens who pose a danger to national security and public safety," said ICE Director Sarah Saldaña. "This removal is one more example of the dedication and hard work ERO officers exhibit daily in the course of their mission."
Alati was convicted Jan. 13 in the U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas, of evading by motor vehicle and entering military property. He had pleaded guilty to the charges Jan. 8, and was sentenced to time served. Under the conditions of his guilty plea, he was ordered to immediately depart the country. On that same date, Alati was escorted by FBI special agents to an outbound flight where he refused to board.
Alati entered ICE custody the following day and was placed in removal proceedings. On Feb. 5, a judicial order of removal was signed, terminating his administrative proceedings. He arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 12 under ICE escort.
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