DETROIT — A Detroit-area man suspected in the deaths of two United Nations peacekeepers in 1980 admitted Monday that he entered the United States fraudulently and agreed to return to his native Lebanon.
Mahmoud Bazzi, 71, wants to return to Lebanon via a route that does not take him through Europe, his attorney Karim Ajluni told immigration court in Detroit.
The Irish government suspects Bazzi in the deaths of two of its soldiers assigned to UN peacekeeping duties in Lebanon. Bazzi is not charged with killing Derek Smallhorne and Thomas Barrett, and insists he was not involved.
Frank Ledda, the government’s lawyer in the immigration case, said Bazzi’s deportation has nothing to do with those allegations.
The agreement was ‘‘simply designed to remove him from the United States,’’ Ledda said.
Bazzi and his attorney wanted him to travel directly to Lebanon, but Ledda said ‘‘there is no direct route that we can travel by.’’
Ajluni said Bazzi does not want to travel through Europe because of the Irish government’s interest in him.
‘‘We do not want any complications by any government officials or being stopped at an airport,’’ Ajluni said. ‘‘His order is very clear. He should be deported to Lebanon.’’
Khaalid Walls, a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said ‘‘the government hasn’t agreed to avoid any specific territory.’’
It was not clear when Bazzi would leave, but deportations usually take about 30 days.