The Muslim mayor of Prospect Park, New Jersey, Mohamed T. Khairullah, was denied access to the White House Eid reception on Monday, despite having received an invitation to the event. The United States Secret Service did not approve his clearance for entry, according to a statement by the Council on American-Islamic Relations' New Jersey chapter.
Mayor Khairullah submitted his information to the White House Worker and Visa Entry System two days before the event but was only informed that he would not be permitted to attend half an hour before his scheduled arrival. This was in contrast to the normal procedure where guests receive an invitation and then submit their information to the Secret Service via WAVES. The Secret Service then makes the final decision on whether the guest is cleared for entry into the White House.
The White House referred all questions on the incident to the USSS. A staffer from the White House social office called Khairullah, but did not offer an explanation on the decision. In his remarks at the event, President Joe Biden acknowledged and celebrated the contributions of elected Muslim officials, highlighting that many of them were the first Muslims to hold their positions. He told the group gathered in the White House East Room, “I want all the elected officials here who serve in city, county, and state governments across the nation– I want to compliment you. So many of you are the first Muslims ever to hold the positions you hold.”
CAIR-New Jersey called the move an "affront to the Muslim community," with the executive director stating that "to be effectively disinvited from the White House Eid celebration, just hours ahead of time, is wholly unacceptable and insulting." The organization added that "a well-respected Muslim leader would effectively be disinvited from the White House Eid celebration, just hours ahead of time, is wholly unacceptable and insulting."
While the Secret Service statement expressed regret for any inconvenience caused, they noted that they could not comment further on the specific protective means and methods used to conduct security operations at the White House.