Omar Faraj Saeed Al Hardan, Material Support to ISIL, Texas 2023

HOUSTON, TX – A Texas man has been detained on charges of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization. Omar Faraj Saeed Al Hardan, 24, a Palestinian born in Iraq, was ordered into custody after a hearing in federal court.

Al Hardan is charged with one count each of attempting to provide material support to ISIL, procurement of citizenship or naturalization unlawfully and making false statements. According to the indictment, he attempted to provide material support and resources, including training, expert advice and assistance, and personnel – specifically himself – to a known foreign terrorist organization.

The charges allege that Al Hardan knowingly responded, certified and swore untruthfully on his formal application when applying to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. He allegedly represented that he was not associated with a terrorist organization when, in fact, he associated with members and sympathizers of ISIL throughout 2014, according to the charges.

The indictment further alleges that during an interview in October 2015, Al Hardan falsely represented that he had never received any type of weapons training, when he allegedly received automatic machine gun training.

If convicted, Al Hardan faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 for attempting to provide material support to terrorists. He also faces up to 25 years in prison for false citizenship procurement, and up to eight years in prison for making false statements.

An investigation conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and HSI, with the assistance of the Houston Police Department, led to the charges against Al Hardan.

Al Hardan entered the United States as a refugee from Iraq on or about November 2, 2009, and was granted legal permanent residence status on or about August 22, 2011. He resides in Houston and is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

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