Pro-Palestinian Hasidic religious worker accused of hate crimes faces deportation to Israel
Pro-Palestinian Hasidic religious worker accused of hate crimes faces deportation to Israel Hasidic religious worker Yehonatan Ovadia is currently being held at Metropolitan Detention Center in New York City and is facing potential deportation to Israel for his pro-Palestinian views. The 35-year-old originally came to the US in 2022 on a temporary religious worker visa from Israel, according to…
Pro-Palestinian Hasidic religious worker Yehonatan Ovadia, 35, is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York City and faces potential deportation to Israel, according to reports. Ovadia, who entered the US in 2022 on a temporary religious worker visa from Israel, allegedly re-entered the country in April 2024, with his visa expiring in November 2025.
Ovadia's lawyers informed Middle East Eye that when his congregation sought to renew his worker classification, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) initially approved it through 2028. However, just days later, they inexplicably denied the extension as a matter of discretion.
The allegations against Ovadia stem from his pro-Palestinian views, for which he is being held. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed to Middle East Eye that Ovadia is facing deportation to Israel due to his alleged crimes.
Written by urgent.news from Middle East Eye's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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