Boston Herald
An Iranian refugee receiving welfare benefits in Maine while becoming self-radicalized before he fought and died for ISIS has an enraged Gov. Paul R. LePage calling for a sweep of all such taxpayer-funded payouts in his state and nationwide.
Adnan Fazeli 38 came to Freeport Maine in 2009 and was killed last year on the battlefield in Lebanon after abandoning his wife and three kids to join the terror army according to federal court documents unsealed this week.
The familys food stamps and welfare checks were cut off in 2013 Maine officials told the Herald after Fazeli left the state for Turkey in his quest to join ISIS.
LePage said the stunning news of an Islamic State convert in his midst has left him embarrassed" and outraged at President Obamas failed" vetting of immigrants adding hes fed up with states like his being left to deal with the refugee crisis.
If people need to eat Ill feed them. But I want to keep Americans safe" LePage said. This is very embarrassing to the state of Maine and I point the finger at the president and say How did this happen? If the federal government doesnt do their job we dont know what were getting."
Fazeli became radicalized over the internet while living in the U.S. according to an affidavit written by George Loder a state police detective on an FBI task force who spoke to unnamed informants.
Fazeli was killed Jan. 23 2015 while fighting alongside 150 ISIS militants during a battle near the Christian town of Ras Baalbek in Lebanon near Syria according to court records.
Maine officials said Fazeli was on food stamps and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families for at least four years until 2013. LePage said he is now calling for a review of all such benefits in his state. He also said Fazelis wife is no longer in Maine.
Im having (the Maine Department of Health and Human Services) look at our welfare rolls closer" LePage said. All the other states should look at the eligibility too."
He said the immigration issue is a personal one" that has haunted him since Mohamed Atta one of the ringleaders of the Sept. 11 2001 terrorist attacks flew to Logan International Airport out of Portland Maine. LePage was the general manager of Mardens a discount store where Atta was seen shopping.
The governor also noted brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev the Boston Marathon bombers were also self-radicalized while on welfare.
Asylum seekers come here and we have to put them up but the federal government is in control" LePage said. Once they get here I cant do anything about it. Obama says its my problem.
Mohamed Atta came through Maine" he added. Im worried. Absolutely. … I looked back and saw Atta on video shopping and he was the worst. Nearly 3000 people were killed in the 9/11 attacks."
LePage lashed out at Obama saying the administrations immigration policies have been an utter failure and continue to jeopardize the safety of millions of Americans."
According to the affidavit Fazeli converted from a Shia to a Sunni Muslim" while in Maine grew a beard and became very religious. An informant said Fazelis actions alienated him from many of his Shia and moderate Sunni friends in the area" according to the affidavit.
However there were a few local Sunnis who supported his new fervor and treated him with a great deal of respect" the affidavit states. Fazeli started holding occasional religious meetings at his home in Freeport."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard W. Murphy told the Herald he is not expecting any charges to come from the Fazeli investigation based on the facts currently known." He declined to discuss the case further.
Fazeli came under investigation shortly after he left his job at Dubai Auto in Portland and flew to Turkey in August 2013.
Authorities said Fazeli came to Maine through Catholic Charities Refugee and Immigration Services but a spokeswoman for the charity said they had nothing to do with his arrival in Freeport and that he sought them out for assistance.
