Iraqi in Volusia jail on immigration hold



January 13, 2010


By MARK I. JOHNSON


NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 28-year-old Iraqi citizen arrested for driving without a valid driver's license remained in jail Tuesday after federal law enforcement authorities put a hold on his release.


Rushdi
Saif N. Rushdi, a native of Baghdad with a New Smyrna Beach address, was taken into custody during a traffic stop on State Road 44 on Monday afternoon after a member of a federal joint terrorism task force tipped a Volusia County sheriff's deputy to the license infraction.

A sheriff's arrest affidavit said Daytona Beach Police Officer Alex Manjasek was following Rushdi, who was wanted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. Manjasek contacted deputy Omar McKnight, informing him Rushdi has no driver's license and U.S. Customs and Immigration officials had recently revoked his visa.

"There was no terrorist threat," said Jeff Westcott, spokesman for the FBI's Jacksonville office, which is also part of the task force. "We were aware of the immigration violation." But he would not elaborate.

Westcott also declined to say why Manjasek was following Rushdi, how long the detainee lived in the New Smyrna Beach area, or other specifics about the task force's involvement.

The arrest report did state Rushdi was absent without leave from military training in Wichita, Kan., but officials would not indicate his branch of service, how long he served or the nature of his training.

Several questions about Rushdi e-mailed to immigration authorities in South Florida were not immediately answered Tuesday.

Volusia County Branch Jail officials said Rushdi remained in custody on an immigration hold. Court records say he's a fugitive from justice.

mark.johnson@news-jrnl.com








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