Deportation of Cleric in Appeal Stage

NEW YORK — Sheik Omar Abdul Rahman, the blind Egyptian cleric who is spiritual leader to some suspects arrested on terrorism-related charges, is living in the United States on borrowed time.

Abdul Rahman, who denies involvement in February’s World Trade Center bombing or in the alleged terrorist plot broken up by the FBI on Thursday, was ordered deported March 17 on grounds that he lied in immigration papers when he entered the United States in 1991.

Authorities said he did not disclose that he is a bigamist and was convicted in Egypt on a check fraud charge.

Under federal law, Abdul Rahman had 10 days to appeal his deportation order to the Board of Immigration Appeals in Washington, a branch of the Justice Department. Although he met that deadline, the board, which typically takes about six months to dispose of such cases, has not ruled. A U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service spokesman said he knows of no reason to expedite Abdul Rahman’s appeal.

If he should lose his appeal, he could take his case to federal district court, where a decision could take two years.

Abdul Rahman, who often preaches at mosques in Jersey City, N.J., and Brooklyn, N.Y., has advocated the assassination or violent overthrow of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. But he strongly denies that he has ever encouraged violent acts in the United States.

Federal investigators said they have no evidence that would compel them to arrest Abdul Rahman or charge him in connection with any terrorist acts in this country.