US State Department Expels Lebanese Consul in Detroit
The US State Department has declared the Lebanese Consul in Detroit persona non grata, ordering his departure by November 8 due to national security concerns.
The United States Department of State has officially declared the Lebanese Consul in Detroit, Ibrahim Sharara, persona non grata, citing national security reviews as the basis for the decision.
Authorities have mandated that the diplomat depart the United States no later than November 8, noting that the action is consistent with the enforcement of American law and international obligations.
The decision follows a review of a past social media post by the consul on the platform X, in which he praised the 1983 attack on the US Marine barracks in Beirut, an incident that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of service members.
A State Department spokesperson emphasized that a visa is a privilege rather than a right, stating that the United States will not overlook those who justify attacks against its forces stationed abroad.