Illegal immigration status revealed in shooting of Jewish man in Dem-controlled city

The suspect charged with shooting a Jewish man multiple times on his way to a Chicago synagogue last week is a Mauritanian illegal immigrant who was released into the U.S. last year, Fox News has confirmed. 

Four law enforcement sources say that Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, a Mauritanian national, was apprehended in Border Patrol's San Diego Sector in March 2023 and was released into the U.S.

Police say he attacked the 39-year-old male victim on Saturday morning in Chicago's West Rogers Park neighborhood. Police said that the suspect was identified less than 30 minutes after the shooting, at which point he allegedly shot at responders before police "returned fire, striking the offender." The victim, who was wearing traditional Jewish clothing, survived the attack.

JEWISH COMMUNITY 'SHAKEN' AFTER CHICAGO MAN SHOT ON WAY TO SYNAGOGUE, ATTACKER FIRED AT POLICE

Police said they recovered a weapon from the scene and that Abdallahi was "placed into custody, transported to an area hospital and subsequently charged accordingly." Abdallahi is facing 14 felony counts, including six counts of attempted murder. 

Mauritania is a majority Muslim country in northwest Africa. The Department of Homeland Security deems illegal immigrants from Mauritania as "special interest aliens" due to security concerns, and they are supposed to receive additional DHS vetting. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had initially told Fox News Digital that it had no interaction with him. Law enforcement sources say that there is detainer request on Abdallahi - a request that he is transferred to ICE custody in the event of his release - but that "sanctuary" policies in Cook County, Illinois, prohibit local authorities from cooperating with it.