<http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/news/print_030905_APlocal_passport.html>
Woman who raised terrorism concerns with altered passport deported By The Associated Press (3/09/05 - HOUSTON) - A woman whose arrest at a South Texas airport with a mutilated passport raised terrorism concerns was deported Tuesday to South Africa, never having faced terrorism charges. Farida Goolam Mahomed Ahmed, 49, was convicted of criminal charges of illegal entry into the United States, making false statements to federal authorities and misuse of an altered South African passport. She was sentenced Dec. 7 to the time she was held on the charges and was ordered deported Dec. 22. Ahmed waived her right to appeal the judge's decision. TV reporter among four men arrested for sex with teenage girl City council votes on controversial smoking ban Man sentenced to prison for injecting man with deadly silicone Former church music director accused of molesting child Man accused of having sex with teen, found living inside girl's closet Preacher heads to court to face charges of running pyramid scheme Trial to begin for woman accused of setting fire that killed husband Firefighters manage to put out blaze before it spread to other units Thief uses crowbar to get away with goods at store in SW Houston More recent stories She was turned over to authorities in South Africa when she arrived, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said. She is barred from returning to the United States for 10 years. When Ahmed was arrested last summer, Rep. Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, had said a Border Patrol agent's check of databases showed Ahmed was on a government watch list. A senior law enforcement official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, had told The Associated Press that investigators had tried to determine whether Ahmed had ties to terrorist groups. The Border Patrol also had said in a year-end report that she was wanted for questioning for involvement in the bombing of a U.S. Consulate office. The Border Patrol later retracted that statement, and the U.S. Attorney's office continually denied that she was on a watch list. Ortiz said he was told the woman was suspicious because she had been in the area of several embassy bombings abroad when they occurred. He said he accepts the conclusions reached by federal investigators. "I'm glad she's gone," Ortiz said. "That doesn't mean she's not going to try to come back." Federal officials have been concerned that terrorists may enter the country illegally through the U.S.-Mexico border. Admiral James Loy, deputy Homeland Security secretary, said in written testimony submitted last month to the Senate Intelligence Committee that intelligence the agency gathered "strongly suggests that al-Qaida has considered using the southwestern border to infiltrate the United States." But he said the department had no conclusive evidence of that. Ahmed was arrested July 19 by Border Patrol agents at the McAllen, Texas, airport as she tried to board a flight to Houston that was continuing to New York City. Ahmed told agents she had a valid visa, but records showed she did not. Three pages were missing from her passport, and she had a bag of wet clothing. She later told officials that she swam across the Rio Grande from Mexico earlier that day. She was carrying $6,300, flight itineraries, a camera and a cell phone, officials said. Records showed she had traveled from Johannesburg, South Africa to Dubai, United Arab Emirates and then to London's Gatwick airport. A July 14 itinerary showed she had traveled from London Heathrow Airport to Mexico City. (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) - Talk about this story - General posting board Eyewitness News headlines first thing in the morning Get caught up on all the news from your morning and overnight. Tell us your email address and we'll send you ABC13 Eyewitness News headlines first thing in the morning, every weekday morning! Your Email: Already a member? Sign in * Click here if you'd like to sign up for our 12pm, 5pm, bizarre, or entertainment newsletters, too! Last Updated: Mar 9, 2005 Back -- ----------------- R. A. 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