▁fle w ▁to ▁Brook lyn ▁with ▁his ▁new ▁wife ▁and ▁after ▁his ▁American ▁tour ist ▁vis a ▁exp ired , ▁applied ▁for ▁am n esty ▁claim ing ▁to ▁be ▁an ▁agricult ural ▁worker ▁and ▁was ▁accepted ▁as ▁a ▁permanent ▁resident ▁under ▁the ▁Im m igration ▁Reform ▁and ▁Control ▁Act ▁of ▁ 1 9 8 6 . ▁ ▁He ▁worked ▁as ▁a ▁New ▁York ▁City ▁cab driver ▁for ▁five ▁years ▁from ▁ 1 9 8 6 – 1 9 9 1 , ▁though ▁he ▁saw ▁his ▁license ▁susp ended ▁ten ▁times ▁during ▁that ▁period , ▁for ▁failing ▁to ▁attend ▁traffic ▁court ▁for ▁cab ▁viol ations ▁including ▁traffic ▁viol ations ▁and ▁an ▁attempt ▁to ▁over charge ▁a ▁customer . ▁ ▁In ▁his ▁free ▁time , ▁Ab ou hal ima ▁worked ▁long ▁hours ▁for ▁a ▁non - pro fit ▁group ▁in ▁Brook lyn ▁that ▁raised ▁money ▁for ▁the ▁Afghan ▁M uj ah ide en . ▁ ▁Milit ancy ▁Ab ou hal ima ▁travel led ▁to ▁Afghan istan ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 8 , ▁saying ▁he ▁wanted ▁to ▁prove ▁he ▁" was ▁a ▁Muslim , ▁not ▁a ▁sheep ", ▁and ▁received ▁combat - training ▁in ▁P esh aw ar . ▁ ▁Ali ▁Moh amed , ▁a ▁ser ge ant ▁at ▁Fort ▁B rag g , ▁provided ▁United ▁States ▁Army ▁manual s ▁and ▁other ▁assistance ▁to ▁individuals ▁at ▁the ▁al - F ar ou q ▁Mos que , ▁and ▁some ▁members ▁including ▁Ab ou hal ima ▁and ▁El ▁Say y id ▁N os air ▁pract iced ▁at