Rogue of the Week
U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales & District Director for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services William McNamee
February 3rd, 2010
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January 27th, 2010
Oregon School Activities Association | Stop spelling “T-E-A-M” With an “I.” 0 comments
January 13th, 2010
Schubert Flint Public Affairs | Prop. 8’s fear mongers return to Oregon for Measures 66 and 67.3 comments
January 6th, 2010
Associated Oregon Industries | Claiming free speech to stomp unions.3 comments
December 16th, 2009
Lewis & Clark | Trafficking in B.S.18 comments
December 9th, 2009
Port Of Portland | What’s a public agency got against peaceful dissent?1 comment
November 18th, 2009
Bureau Of Transportation | One more mouth to feed.12 comments
November 11th, 2009
Washington Co. DA’s Office | Abusing a domestic violence law.28 comments
November 4th, 2009
University Of Oregon | Who’s killing Rudolph?7 comments
October 28th, 2009
Metro | A blowhard answer to global warming? 6 comments
 Alberto Gonzales |
[May 2nd, 2007] This week's Rogues list includes U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, but not because he's politicized the Justice Department. No, Gonzales makes it along with William McNamee —district director for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services—and other top feds for delaying the citizenship application of a transplanted Oregonian, Ahmed Musbah Elsadig.
For the past two years, the feds have put Elsadig in naturalization limbo, waiting to clear a "security check" that's supposed to take 120 days.
"If they're from the Middle East, or Muslim, or their middle name is Muhammad, they're in the backlog," says Elsadig's attorney, Philip Smith.
Before you ask whether the feds should be extra-cautious granting citizenship after 9/11, know that Elsadig has legally held a green card since coming to the U.S. in 1999. A 30-year-old citizen of Sudan and a professional economist, Elsadig has no criminal record. He has worked in the Oregon Employment Department, writing such dangerously wonkish tracts as "The Impact of NAFTA on Oregon's Agricultural Employment" and "Got Cheese?" about Tillamook's cheese industry.
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"He can fit in and make friends in Hermiston and Beaverton," says Dave Nelson, who hired Elsadig to work at the department in 2003. Dallas Fridley, who co-wrote "Got Cheese?" with Elsadig, describes him as "one of the most likable people on the face of the earth."
Since Elsadig originally applied for citizenship in 2005, he's written six inquiries through his attorney about the delay. Each time, Immigration Services has replied that his "security checks are still pending," without further elaboration.
McNamee didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.
Elsadig filed a complaint against this week's Rogues on March 26, asking the U.S. District Court of Oregon to assume jurisdiction. "It's hurting him professionally," Smith says of the lag. "He's well educated, he's got a good job, and he pays taxes. He's entitled to be treated like everyone else."
RECENT COMMENTS ON “Rogue of the Week”
I don't see what the big deal is with this.
I applied for citizenship in 1997 and didn't receive it until 1999. I waited two years, and I was employed for 5 years, didn't (still don...
If the security check is supposed to take 120 days and has acturally lasted 2 years the the entire INS establishment should be fired for incompetance. As a taxpayer, I find sloppy government service ...
Why hasn't Vickie Phillips won Rogue of the Week the last couple issues? That last vindictive email WW printed proves, conclusively, her manner of action regarding honest critics.
OMG I hope Gonzales has a better memory when he is a practicing lawyer, what a loser? And that goofy grin he gets when he's about to say, "I dont recall, I can check my notes and get back to you b...
