Two Gur followers from Israel were arrested last week at the border crossing between Canada and the United States, after they were caught trying to smuggle one of them into US territory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The US Department of Justice announced that the two - lawyer and rabbinical advocate Israel Andan, 46, of Beit Shemesh, and Elazar Vigdorowitz, 33, of Jerusalem, a well-known figure in Hasidism known as 'Gur's operations man' - are now facing serious federal charges for immigration offenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
US authorities have informed Israeli law enforcement authorities of the arrest of the two. Israel will demand their immediate extradition on suspicion of crimes they committed in Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to a report by Yoav Itiel on the Walla website, the US Department of Justice announced that the two were captured in the early morning hours of January 8, while attempting to enter the United States from Canada via the Rainbow Bridge, which connects Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, and Niagara Falls in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two arrived in Toronto on a flight from Warsaw, the capital of Poland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The arrests came after Customs and Border Protection officers stopped a rented Ford Expedition SUV driven by Israel Andan, a dual citizen. Andan told customs officers that he was a U.S. citizen living in Israel and was on his way to New York City to visit friends and family. He also stated that the vehicle he was driving was rented by a friend, but he did not have a rental contract to show. When asked if he had anything to declare, he said no. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The customs officers suspected something was wrong and referred him for a more thorough inspection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the search, federal agents noticed several suitcases placed in the back of the vehicle. As one of them began to remove the suitcases, she noticed what appeared to be "a person's back." The remaining suitcases were removed and officers discovered Vigdorowicz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the examination conducted on site, it was revealed that Vigdorowitz received a visa to enter the US in 2010, which was revoked in 2017 due to his criminal record in Israel, which includes convictions for conspiracy to commit a criminal offense, assault, extortion, threats, false imprisonment and malicious damage to a vehicle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vigdorowitz served a lengthy prison sentence in Israel in a high-profile case in which he was accused of harassing an ultra-Orthodox marriage counselor and his wife. According to the indictment, he planted a dangerous drug in the couple's luggage and had them arrested in Ukraine, with the aim of severing ties between the mother and her nine children and separating the two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the same reason, he was rejected in 2023 when he tried, after his release, to obtain a visa to the United States. In addition, the American prosecutor's office's statement claimed that new charges pending against him include offenses of receiving something by deception, conspiracy to defraud, willful forgery, use of a forged document, fabrication of evidence, and obstruction of justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the US Department of Justice, on January 5, 2026, Vigdorowitz attempted to apply for the new electronic system ESTA, which issues visas online - but was rejected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Immigration officials said that Vigdorowitz - a Gur Hasid, as you may recall - said that all he wanted to do was visit the grave of his rabbi, who is buried in the United States. When asked why he was hiding in the trunk, he had difficulty providing a proper explanation. Andan stated that he had no idea that Vigdorowitz was in the vehicle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The federal agents didn't believe them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two were arrested, brought before a judge in federal court in Buffalo, and each was charged with immigration offenses. Vigdorowicz is charged with illegal entry into the country, which carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Attorney Israel Andan is even more complicated: he is accused of bringing a foreigner under his protection, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By decision of Judge Michael Romer, the two remain in custody for the time being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The US Department of Justice appropriates the two's concept for Operation "Take America Back," a national operation that brings together the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, completely eliminate cartels and international criminal organizations operating in the US, and "protect our communities from violent crime.". <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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