Leader of British anti-immigrant group arrested after illegally entering U.S.

The English Defense League is a far-right extremist group devoted to keeping undesirable immigrants — Muslims in particular — out of Britain. But one of it’s leaders, Stephen Lennon, found himself on the other side of the immigration divide when he was arrested trying to enter the U.S. on a false passport. The Independent reports: ...

By , a former associate editor at Foreign Policy.

The English Defense League is a far-right extremist group devoted to keeping undesirable immigrants -- Muslims in particular -- out of Britain. But one of it's leaders, Stephen Lennon, found himself on the other side of the immigration divide when he was arrested trying to enter the U.S. on a false passport. The Independent reports:

The English Defense League is a far-right extremist group devoted to keeping undesirable immigrants — Muslims in particular — out of Britain. But one of it’s leaders, Stephen Lennon, found himself on the other side of the immigration divide when he was arrested trying to enter the U.S. on a false passport. The Independent reports:

Mr Lennon, who had previously been refused entry to the US, used a passport in the name of Andrew McMaster to board a Virgin Atlantic Flight from Heathrow to New York in September.

He was caught when customs officials at JFK airport took his fingerprints and realised he was not Mr McMaster.

Lennon was asked to attend a second interview but left the airport, entering the US illegally.

Mr Lennon stayed one night in the US and then travelled back to the UK the following day using his own legitimate passport – – which bears the name Paul Harris.

Lennon/Harris/McMaster, who has prior convictions for assault and other offences, was arrested back in the U.K. and has been sentenced to 10 months in jail. 

Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating

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