Aber Kawas, a newly elected Democratic Socialist representing New York’s state Senate District 12 in Queens, is facing scrutiny over her portrayal of her father’s deportation from the United States. While Kawas has described her father’s removal as an example of systemic cruelty and anti-Muslim bias within the country’s immigration system, court records reveal that her father’s deportation followed multiple felony convictions.

Abdelkareem Kawas, a Jordanian national, entered the United States in 1989 on a tourist visa and overstayed. He was convicted of felony fraud charges in two different states before being deported under the Bush administration, not during the Trump-era immigration policies that Aber Kawas has frequently referenced on the campaign trail.

According to court documents, Abdelkareem Kawas was found guilty in 1995 in Richmond City Circuit Court, Virginia, of making a false statement, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Over a decade later, he pleaded guilty in Bergen County, New Jersey, in 2006 to theft by deception, involving the inflation of property values. He was sentenced to three years in state prison but was released after serving approximately one year and several months.

Following his criminal convictions, Abdelkareem Kawas’ immigration case involved several appeals. A federal immigration judge ordered his removal after he failed to appear for a 2004 hearing. He sought relief through cancellation of removal and hardship waivers, citing the impact his deportation would have on his American family, but these appeals were denied. The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit rejected his final petition in December 2008, upholding the removal order.

During her campaign, Aber Kawas shared personal anecdotes about visiting her father in detention facilities and framed his deportation as an example of an unjust immigration system. She has cited his experience to highlight what she describes as ongoing governmental cruelty and discrimination affecting immigrants and Muslims. However, she has not publicly addressed her father’s criminal convictions in these narratives.

In response to inquiries, Kawas’ campaign expressed pride in her father and emphasized transparency about their family’s experiences with immigration enforcement and the justice system. The campaign stated that their electoral victory reflected a demand in Queens for inclusive politics that resist discrimination and prioritize dignity and affordability for all residents.

Kawas won the state Senate seat with 58.33% of the vote. Her election marks a significant moment for the local progressive movement, though the revelations about her father's criminal history have prompted further discussion about the complexities of immigrant experiences and political messaging.