US threatens mass expulsions

[bbchris]

BBC news



More than 13,000 Arab and Muslim men in the US are facing deportation after co-operating with post-11 September anti-terror measures, it has been revealed.

They are among 82,000 adult males who obeyed a government demand to register with the immigration service earlier this year, on the grounds they come from 25 mainly Muslim countries said to harbour terror groups.



Only 11 of those who registered, and of the tens of thousands more screened at airports and border crossings, have been found to have links with terrorism.



The vast bulk of those facing deportation proceedings were found to have lapses in their immigration status. By co-operating fully with the demand to register, many had hoped to be treated leniently.



But the immigration service - which faced a backlash after several of the 11 September hijackers were found to have been in the country illegally - says enforcement is now a top priority.



Correspondents say families in immigrant communities have already started packing up to leave the country, while others are simply going underground.







Mass arrests



Officials told the New York Times that more than 600 Arab and Muslim illegal immigrants were deported during the first wave of expulsions after 11 September.



If a loophole can be exploited by an immigrant, it can also be exploited by a terrorist



Jim Chaparro

Homeland Security department





US tackles net security



But the Department of Justice stopped releasing figures after the number of arrests reached 1,200, says the paper, and no complete statistics are now available.



Last year authorities launched a drive to track down those already served with deportation orders, in which more than 3,000 arrests were made.



But this third sweep for illegal immigrants seems set to produce the largest wave of deportations: 13,354 at the last count, compiled by American newspapers.



"There's been a major shift in our priorities," Jim Chaparro told the New York Times. He is acting director for interior enforcement at the Department of Homeland Security - which has now absorbed the old immigration service.



"We need to focus our enforcement efforts on the biggest threats. If a loophole can be exploited by an immigrant, it can also be exploited by a terrorist," he said.



'Good conscience'



But critics say the latest crackdown on immigrants is unfair and racist.



"People did register out of their good conscience, because they wanted to follow the rules, respect the law," said Fayiz Rahman of the American Muslim Council.



He says the policy is "targeted only toward Muslims.



"This is a major concern. They are planning to reduce the number of Muslims on American soil... discourage Muslim immigration, make our lives difficult."



Other critics say some of those awaiting deportation had only violated immigration rules due to a backlog in processing of applications by the government.



Added to the controversy is a report released by the Department of Justice on Monday, which found "significant problems" in the way many immigrants arrested after the 11 September attacks were treated.



Many were chained, physically and verbally abused, held without bail and denied access to lawyers, says the report, according to news agency AFP.



But immigration officials defend the clampdown on immigrants.



"We get criticised every day for not following through," said Bill Strassberger, spokesman for the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.



"We can't have a legitimate immigration system if we allow people to come and just do what they want. It's not fair to those who do comply with the rules."



Have you been affected by this issue? Send us your comments using the form below.







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I had to jump through masses of hoops to come to the US



Lisa, USA

I'm in complete agreement with these immigration officials. I had to jump through masses of hoops to come to the US, legitimately married to a US service member and I'm a British citizen! I have no time or patience for those who exploit loop holes in the system or arrive illegally without proceeding through the correct channels.

Lisa, USA



Attitudes clearly demonstrative of religious and racial exclusivism are readily evident in both government policy and mainstream media treatment of Arabs and Muslims in the USA today. Those of us here in the USA who work in the field of interfaith relations are increasingly concerned as our federal government, ostensibly pursuing a global war against terrorism, seems to be slipping and sliding toward religious fascism here at home.

Michael Gillespie, Chair, Ames Interfaith Council, Ames, Iowa USA



I am a natural born citizen who is disgusted with the way the INS treats many who walk through its doors. They are horribly understaffed and that translates into a backlog that lets good people trying to make a better life for themselves and their families into a door to government red tape. If the US government wants to do things correctly they should hire more people to process paperwork and answer phones to help new immigrants instead of spread fear through immigrant groups. This country was founded on immigrants and it constantly amazes me how many people that claim to be Americans forget that someone in their family was once an immigrant themselves.

Stacy, USA



The Muslim community must expect closer scrutiny



Douglas G, USA

The events of September 11, 2001 affected each and every person living on the planet, most particularly Americans. Clearly every nation on earth has the right to regulate those who enter through its borders. Since those who chose to attack us are Muslims, the Muslim community must expect closer scrutiny.

Douglas G, USA



As an American Muslim I am increasingly worried about my country's tactics. Just a few months back I had a relative coming to visit me on a legitimate visa which we had a lawyer ensure complied with American law. Unfortunately, our lawyer made a small mistake which we were unaware of. At the airport the INS officers realized that the lawyer made a mistake. While the supervisor was understanding, his subordinates were cruel, and condescending in their behaviour. My uncle was detained, not allowed to speak to anyone and prevented from taking his medicine (he is a cardiac patient). Not only that, but the subordinates had the gall to suggest that he was not ill (they said he would be lying on the floor if this was true), and that he could spend the night in jail and not worry about a hotel. He was forced to buy a hideously expensive ticket to return home. This is not the America that I grew up in.

Sam, USA

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