Feds: Terror suspect sought to bring people into U.S.

A Chicago businessman linked to a terror plot to attack a Danish newspaper that published controversial cartoons about the Prophet Muhammad spoke about ways to bring people into the U.S. under false pretenses, according to a new government filing in the case.

Prosecutors seeking to keep Tahawwur Hussain Rana in custody said Rana communicated with a person affiliated with the Pakistani group Lashkar-e-Taiba about such arrangements. Rana, the owner of an immigration business and a Grundy County meat processing plant, was arrested last month after raids connected to the terror investigation. Rana allegedly e-mailed a Lashkar-e-Taiba associate in December 2008 to give advice about using a "loophole" in American immigration policy.

"Whenever you find easy way to come to US immediately think there is a catch to it," Rana allegedly wrote. "Only one loophole is business, which they believe is OK and intelligence can play a role."

A judge put off the detention hearing until next Tuesday to give the defense time to review the prosecution filing.

Rana allegedly discussed the loophole with the individual as recently as September, the filing said. The individual wanted to obtain immigration status for another person but noted the person had a degree in textiles, which did not fit into any accepted U.S. category.

"But it - it is not necessary that it should fall in there... Make him a cook," Rana wrote.

"Tell him that he has a diploma for a two-year, four-year, it can even be from some food stand - which, but it must confirm that 'yes, I'm a cook.' And he should learn something. The whole purpose is immigration, right."

In a defense filing earlier Tuesday, a lawyer for Rana said as much as $1 million could be posted for his release. Rana has been a lawful citizen of Canada and has lived in the U.S. for ten years without incident, according to that filing.

-- Jeff Coen

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