The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is pushing back against Seattle’s mayor and the Seattle Times for attempting to paint a sympathetic picture of Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry, a Pakistani national with a decades-long record of fraud and deception. DHS said Chaudhry is a “serial fraudster” who repeatedly lied to US authorities about his criminal history, military service, and financial dealings while collecting nearly half a million dollars in taxpayer-funded benefits.
The Seattle Times latest sob story is about an illegal alien who was convicted of bank fraud whose wife is a jihadi
"Your first indicator should have been The @seattletimes sticking up for a veteran. The Seattle Times never sticks up for a member of our armed forces or cops." pic.twitter.com/UYt40aZFZc
— Ari Hoffman 🎗 (@thehoffather) August 25, 2025
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell had issued a statement portraying Chaudhry as a veteran unfairly targeted by immigration enforcement, saying, “Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry served our country and was taking the lawful steps toward citizenship. Detaining him in that process is unjust and undermines faith in the system… I stand with those calling for his release and for an immigration system that honors dignity, service, and fairness.”
.@MayorofSeattle, why are you issuing a statement in defense of a criminal global fraudster?
🧵Muhammad Chaudhry is a Pakistani criminal illegal alien who lied about his criminal history, true identity, and military service. pic.twitter.com/9oLcrN5EAB
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) September 4, 2025
Seattle’s activist left and local media are once again teaming up to push a sympathetic narrative around an immigration case, while critics say they are burying the inconvenient details. The Seattle Times highlighted Chaudhry’s detention during what was supposed to be his citizenship interview in Tukwila, framing the case as the targeting of a US Army veteran.
🧵THE LATEST SEATTLE TIME BS DEBUNKED
The @seattletimes is trying to paint Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry as a sympathetic. As always, they aren't telling you about his criminal history and his family's support of terror.
Here is why you should cancel your subscription: pic.twitter.com/oS5deCA1Zt
— Ari Hoffman 🎗 (@thehoffather) August 22, 2025
His wife, Melissa Chaudhry, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in Washington’s 9th District in 2024 on a stridently anti-Israel platform, has been outspoken in the media. She told reporters her husband’s case is “another example of injustice against immigrants.” Melissa’s campaign drew controversy for her support of the violent Gaza encampment at the University of Washington and endorsements from openly antisemitic figures in state politics.
His wife Melissa ran for Congress in 2024 and her only issue seemed to be hatred of Israel & Jews. She supported the Gaza encampment at @UW
was endorsed by some of the most antisemitic voices in Washington including Han Tran, Rami Al Kabra & Yasmin Trudeau pic.twitter.com/sDm0qx3ytx— Ari Hoffman 🎗 (@thehoffather) August 22, 2025
There have already been at least two rallies in Seattle calling for Chaudhry’s release, including one organized by a Marxist group, though turnout was sparse.
Court filings obtained by The Olympian and other outlets trace Chaudhry’s fraud back to the 1990s. In Australia, where he worked as a taxi driver, he was convicted after attempting to use a passenger’s passport, left in his cab as collateral, to open a bank account and secure medical benefits. He also used a stolen credit card more than two dozen times. KING 5 reported that Chaudhry tried to re-enter Australia with a fraudulent passport before traveling to the United States on a tourist visa and eventually settling in Yakima.
Once in the US, he married a citizen who petitioned for his residency. But when applying for visas, naturalization, and jobs, including a position with the Yakima Police Department, he falsely claimed he had no prior arrests or convictions.
In 2003, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) moved to rescind his permanent resident status. The case was mistakenly dropped after officials incorrectly believed Chaudhry was serving overseas with the Washington Army National Guard.
According to DHS, Chaudhry not only concealed his Australian convictions but also falsely claimed to have been deployed to Iraq. The Department of Defense confirmed he was never deployed. An Inspector General’s report found he fraudulently collected $449,459.82 in Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and still owes more than $81,000 from a mortgage reduction grant.
Over the years, federal courts have repeatedly cited his “disturbing pattern of deceit” in naturalization and benefits cases. In 2020, the Board of Immigration Appeals said his “propensity for dishonesty” made him undesirable as a permanent U.S. resident.
On August 21, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Chaudhry at a USCIS office in Tukwila, Washington, after confirming he was subject to a final order of removal. He has since been placed into deportation proceedings.
A DHS spokesperson condemned local officials for promoting Chaudhry’s case: “Sanctuary politician Bruce Harrell and the media are peddling a FALSE sob story on this serial fraudster. Following lies about his military service, he owes the US taxpayers more than $81,000. President Trump and Secretary Noem’s message is clear: criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the United States.”
The agency also noted a 1000 percent increase in assaults on ICE officers, which it links to activist-driven campaigns that vilify immigration enforcement.
DHS says Chaudhry’s arrest underscores the administration’s commitment to removing individuals who have repeatedly abused US laws. “ICE will continue to enforce the law across the country,” the agency said.
