Homeland Security calls out Seattle mayor for defending ‘criminal illegal alien’ taken into custody

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) called out The Seattle Times and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell for defending a man who was taken into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody last month.

“Today, DHS set the record straight on The Seattle Times’ defense of Pakistani criminal illegal alien, and fraudster Muhammad Chaudhry,” DHS wrote in a news release Thursday. “While Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and the media attempt to paint a sob story of this career criminal, DHS is providing the facts about this criminal illegal alien’s extensive rap sheet.”

Muhammad Chaudhry claimed to be a military veteran and is also the husband of Melissa Chaudhry, who is running for Congress in Washington’s 9th District

“Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry served our country and was taking the lawful steps toward citizenship,” Harrell wrote in a statement on August 28. “Detaining him in that process is unjust and undermines faith in the system. This administration’s immigration enforcement is targeting our neighbors, friends, and even veterans rather than focusing on real public safety threats.”

U.S. Congressional candidate’s husband’s criminal record

DHS stated that Muhammad Chaudhry has a criminal record that started when he entered the U.S. in 1988 on a B-2 visitor visa and lied to the government about his past in Australia—which includes five counts of financial deception, possession of stolen goods, and falsifying passports.

Muhammad Chaudhry lied to obtain a green card in the U.S. and was denied citizenship twice, dating back to 2008, according to DHS. He applied for citizenship eight more times and reportedly continued to lie.

DHS stated Muhammad Chaudhry also falsely claimed he was deployed to Iraq and collected $449,459.82 in taxpayer funds from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Veterans’ Benefits Administration (VBA). He currently owes the U.S. government $81,080 for a mortgage reduction grant from the VBA, but has reportedly not made any payments.

“Why do sanctuary politicians and the media continue to peddle sob stories of criminal illegals and smear our brave ICE law enforcement officers?” a DHS spokesperson said, according to the news release. “Make no mistake, these types of lies are contributing to our ICE law enforcement officers facing a 1,000% increase in assaults against them.”

Muhammad Chaudhry detained by ICE

Muhammad Chaudhry was detained by ICE in late August when he arrived for an interview at an immigration office in Tukwila.

“We saw faithlessness and we saw betrayal, when we came in good faith, with open hands and put ourselves into their power,” Melissa Chaudhry told KIRO Newsradio. “And now my family is torn in pieces, and my soul is shredded, and I have to explain this to our two little children who don’t know what happened to their Baba.”

Melissa Chaudhry said her husband is a disabled U.S. military veteran who has lived in the country for 25 years.

“They waited an hour before they told us, according to what I spoke with him when he was in the detention center, and they have given us no explanation as to why,” Melissa Chaudhry said.

Muhammad Chaudhry connected to multiple fraud cases

Muhammad Chaudhry was allegedly involved in two incidents where he made misrepresentations to government officials after he came to America in 2000, The Olympian reported.

Muhammad Chaudhry was a taxi driver in Australia in 1996 when one of his customers didn’t have money for their fare and left their passport as a promise to return with cash. Muhammad Chaudhry allegedly used the passport to try to open a bank account and obtain medical benefits, according to court records obtained by The Olympian.

Muhammad Chaudhry also used a credit card that wasn’t his, Australian police reported.

Muhammad Chaudhry was subsequently criminally convicted, but did not mention it in his 2001 visa application, according to The Olympian. Melissa Chaudhry said the conviction was the equivalent of a parking ticket.

“It’s far beyond the look back period for good moral character, and when it comes to naturalization, especially for veterans,” she said.

She had no comment on the claim that he lied on a U.S. visa application in 2001.

Muhammad Chaudhry also allegedly misrepresented his citizenship in an application to become a reserve officer at the Yakima Police Department. He did serve in the National Guard.

“This should have resulted in him being finally granted the naturalization he earned as a disabled, decorated, honorably discharged American veteran from 20 years ago, but ICE had other plans,” Melissa Chaudhry said.

She doesn’t know what will happen next.

“I don’t know right now when, if ever, I will see my husband again, or on what continents or in what decade, everything is a possibility right now,” Melissa Chaudhry shared.

She said she plans to file what she can so that ICE will tell her why her husband was detained and secure his release.

The couple has a two-year-old daughter and an 8-month-old son. 

This story was originally published on August 21, 2025. It has been updated and republished since then.

Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest; Heather Bosch and Aaron Granillo, KIRO Newsradio