| Username |
Post |
| mussolini |
Posted
on 26-Dec-02 08:17 PM
As much as I like US Government's fight against terrorism, this is just plain ridiculous:
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Hundreds of Iranian and other Middle East citizens were in southern California jails on Wednesday after coming forward to comply with a new rule to register with immigration authorities only to wind up handcuffed and behind bars.
Shocked and frustrated Islamic and immigrant groups estimate that more than 500 people have been arrested in Los Angeles, neighboring Orange County and San Diego in the past three days under a new nationwide anti-terrorism program. Some unconfirmed reports put the figure as high as 1,000.
The arrests sparked a demonstration by hundreds of Iranians outside a Los Angeles immigration office. The protesters carried banners saying "What's next? Concentration camps?" and "What happened to liberty and justice?."
A spokesman for the Immigration and Naturalization Service said no numbers of people arrested would be made public. A Justice Department (news - web sites) spokesman could not be reached for comment.
The head of the southern California chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (news - web sites) compared the arrests to the internment of Japanese Americans in camps during the Second World War.
"I think it is shocking what is happening. It is reminiscent of what happened in the past with the internment of Japanese Americans. We are getting a lot of telephone calls from people. We are hearing that people went down wanting to cooperate and then they were detained," said Ramona Ripston, the ACLU's executive director.
JAILS OVERFLOWING
One activist said local jails were so overcrowded that the immigrants could be sent to Arizona, where they could face weeks or months in prisons awaiting hearings before immigration judges or deportation.
"It is a shock. You don't expect this to happen. It is really putting fright and apprehension in the community. People who come from these countries -- this is what they expect from their government. Not from America," said Sabiha Khan of the Southern California chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations.
The arrests were part of a post Sept. 11 program that requires all males over 16 from a list of 20 Arab or Middle East countries, who do not have permanent resident status in the United States, to register with U.S. immigration authorities.
Monday was the deadline for men from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya and Sudan. News of the mass arrests came first in southern California, which is home to more than 600,000 Iranian exiles and their families.
Officials declined to give figures for those arrested or for the numbers of people who turned up to register, be fingerprinted and have their photographs taken.
"We are not releasing any numbers," said Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) spokesman Francisco Arcaute.
CALLS FOR HELP
Islamic groups and the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said they had been swamped with calls for help.
INS spokesman Arcaute said those arrested had violated immigration laws, overstayed their visas, or were wanted for crimes. The program was prompted by concern about the lack of records on tourists, students and other visitors to the United States after the Sept. 11 hijack plane attacks on New York and Washington.
Islamic community leaders said many of the detainees had been living, working and paying taxes in the United States for five or 10 years, and had families here.
"Terrorists most likely wouldn't come to the INS to register. It is really a bad way to go about it. They are being treated as criminals and that really goes against American ideals of fairness, and justice and democracy," Khan said.
The Iranian protesters said many of those detained were victims of official delays in processing visa and green card requests.
"My father, they just took him in," one young man told reporters. "They've been treating him like an animal. They put him in a room with, like, 50 other people and no bed or anything."
Khan said one of those in jail was a doctor, who was being sponsored for U.S. citizenship when his sponsor died.
One Syrian man said he went to register in Orange County with a dozen friends. He was the only one to come out of the INS office. "All my friends are inside right now," M.M. Trapici, 45, told reporters. "I have to visit the family for each one today. Most of them have small kids."
What are you thoughts?
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| kewl |
Posted
on 26-Dec-02 10:21 PM
Its' good. If any one want to live on this country, follow the rules. You just simply hate this country and still live here....If you hate this country..GO BACK...THATS IT
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| 1975 |
Posted
on 27-Dec-02 08:10 AM
I second Kewl.. follow the rules.. or else good they'll be behind bars....
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| Vision |
Posted
on 27-Dec-02 08:51 AM
The Bill of Rights does not grant foreigners the right to enter the United States, BUT once here,all immigrants are entitled to certain broad constitutional protections regardless of where they are from and how they entered the country. Due Process -- the right to be treated fairly, whether in a deportation hearing or a criminal court proceedings (or anything else for that matter), applies to every person within U.S. borders, whether legal, illegal or otherwise. And Equal Protection law clearly prohibits discrimination based on RACE or NATIONAL ORIGIN. An alien's rights to free speech, religious freedom and an attorney and a fair trial are protected under the First Amendment which has been undoubtedly violated.
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| Koko |
Posted
on 27-Dec-02 10:00 AM
I am not one bit surprised by this news. This is an ongoing pattern in American history. From the American Indians to 2nd world war to cold war till present. They victimized the Japanese Americans(IIworld war). During the cold war they victimized anyone associated with socialism or communism. And since the late 70's till present they have been treating pepople from Middle East different. Do not forget that little Plane Incident with China and that Nuclear Scientist of chinese orgin. And now this ... It s nothing new.
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| LamjungKunchha |
Posted
on 27-Dec-02 11:52 AM
I don't understand the reason behind this whining. Yep, obey the rules, or else they will get you someday.
LK
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| whine and chij |
Posted
on 27-Dec-02 02:22 PM
people caught breaking the law get busted and punished. exactly where's the double standard you allege?
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| kewl |
Posted
on 27-Dec-02 03:04 PM
What are we expecting in the name of Human rights..? Permission to stay for those people who have run out of their visas..? Green card for those who came illegally..? people who had violated immigration laws, overstayed their visas, or were wanted for crimes is double standard..???
Wake up guys..this is not Nepal and this country is not run by Hawaldars..
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| surya |
Posted
on 27-Dec-02 03:19 PM
Kewl... what is this about "this is not Nepal!" Please! who said it is! It always pisses me off when someone says that!
And "this country is not run by Hawaldars!!" WHAT!! If that was not so funny, I would say... well, okay I won't say it... since that was kind of funny.
Saying something good about one place does not have to mean the other needs to be condemned or ridiculed! Okay!
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| 1975 |
Posted
on 27-Dec-02 06:45 PM
Surya, you certainly make sense here.. why does Nepal have to come in between everything always.. please.. remember guys, you won't find many tourists in Nepal living illegally the way most international ppl do here in this country.. so please stop abusing nepal ....
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| Vision |
Posted
on 27-Dec-02 06:50 PM
Lamjung, Whine and Kewl,
You should read the original thread very carefully once again. The issue you are making here is completely irrelevant to what's actually happening. Its not about anyone breaking the law, not having a green card or over staying their visa. The real issue here is discrimination against one ethnic group in particular in the name of fight against terrorism. Not only will such practice do very little to help fight terrorism, but it will widen the gap between Middle eastern people and the Westerners. And like Surya says, wel all know its not Nepal. And that too doesn't have anything to do with it. It should be condemned whether it is Nepal or US or anywhere else for that matter...
Peace!
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| czar |
Posted
on 27-Dec-02 09:30 PM
If one were to examine the nominations made to the Supreme Court made by the past four administrations, you will find the court heading towards conservatism. Their record on matters pertaining to immigration is hardly encouraging, this, despite this nation being composed of immigrants. Better yet, in Mr. Ashcroft one has an AG that holds prayer meetings at 8 am every working day.
Now what exactly constitutes a desireable immigrant ? So long as you are of caucasion origin, you are pretty welcome. If the entire population of Ireland were to decide to migrate tomorrow, some means or other would surely be found to accomodate the 'micks.'
The US goverment is adroit at finding laws to suit their purposes; witness the dusting off of a 1945 law to detain idenfintely without legal representation a person earlier this year in association with 9/11.
Every other immigrant, legal or otherwise, is here on sufferance. When I say sufferance, it implies that non-white immigrants are here either as a salve to the collective conscience, or, to ease the shortage of specialized skills, such as IT, medical or other professionals, or just plain donkey labor.
The voices that count in this country are: male, white and between the ages of 40 and 55. Witness the voting patterns amd demographics of the last election. They are the ones who put Mr. Bush in the white house, and having it was useful to have the supreme court justices that were appointees of good ole daddy. You, I and the chicken tikka vendor the down the road are irrelevant in terms of national politics.
Insofar as America is concerned, the fun n games are over. Times up and now the noose descends on our collective necks. And the ACLU be damned.
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| kewl |
Posted
on 27-Dec-02 09:48 PM
Vision, Czar..
"Every other immigrant, legal or otherwise, is here on sufferance. When I say sufferance, it implies that non-white immigrants are here either as a salve to the collective conscience, or, to ease the shortage of specialized skills, such as IT, medical or other professionals, or just plain donkey labor. "
Did you forget what happened on September 11..? Those were not carried by some white guys....Lets face the truth..Muslims hate US...(watever be the reason) and government found that people belonging to that relegion are mostly associated with terrorist attack or planning (if you consider Sep 11 was a terrorism.!!) Considering this, government decides to register all people from this relegion to register and send back those, who have overstayed their visas...Whats a big deal here.....
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| czar |
Posted
on 27-Dec-02 10:33 PM
"Muslims hate US...(watever be the reason) and government found that people belonging to that relegion are mostly associated with terrorist attack or planning "
That is a sweeping statement that automatically assumes wrongdoing and guilt on the part of ALL people from the middle east. So, all the law abiding, tax paying Muslims are tarred with the same brush, thanks to the evil deeds of some rotten apples. That doesnt give you pause for thought in the least.
If they are Muslim they are automatically plotting the destruction of civilization as we know it ? Wow, Hitler felt that way about the Jews, and so forth. What say, lets round them all up and push em over the nearest cliff ? Is that a solution ?
Perhaps, when the day Nepalis are targetted, what then ? Till then, yea, do lets sit back and enjoy the show, shall we ? ;)
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| kewl |
Posted
on 27-Dec-02 10:48 PM
Are they doing to ALL the MUSLIMS..?? They are doing to Muslims who are overstaying on their visas...
And about Nepalis..dont worry that day will come soon when US will start looking beoynd Muslims towards all foreigners...believe me that day too I'll be celebrating...
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