Feature Archives

1/92/002: The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) has condemned a new Justice Department plan that focuses deportation efforts on Middle Eastern men. According to the ADC, the program reflects a bias inherent to numerous post-9/11 measures. A clear example is the Department's ongoing investigation of 5,000 young Arab men who entered the United States since Jan. 1, 2000. Males from Arab and Muslim states who apply for visas to visit the U.S. also have to wait an additional 20 days and answer a special questionnaire not required of any other persons. ADC President Ziad Asali explains that "by creating policies that discriminate in this manner, the government is inadvertently fostering fear and suspicion of Arabs and Arab-Americans." More on recent "security" measures.

2/20/2002: Since September 11th, the rapidly-expanding US law enforcement apparatus has been on the move, disappearing and kidnapping thousands of people without revealing any information to their families. Many people do not know where their loved ones are. At least one man has died in custody and many more report torture (Audio). One of 23 demonstrations across the country in solidarity with the disappeared in the U.S.A. took place at the Federal Building in San Francisco 2/20. There was a heavy police presence at the demonstration, which drew about 80 people. The protest was held on the 60th anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 9066, which led to the detention of thousands of Japanese Americans in concentration camps during the Second World War. Photos | Protest Details | Palo Alto Solidarity Protest

4/15/2002: More than 100 day laborers and supporters held a press conference on the steps of SF police headquarters to protest recent harrassment by police, as well as the looming threat of collaboration between INS and local law enforcement. Speakers outlined the group's demands (including a request to meet with the Police Chief, who has so far failed to return calls from the SF Day Labor Program) and local musicians led songs of resistance. The crowd then marched to the INS offices, where chanting, banners, and additional speakers alerted mainstream media and onlookers to the plight of local immigrants. Video, Audio In recent weeks, the INS has arrested and deported local airport workers and raided immigrants' homes. The SFPD has been moving day laborers off the street and giving them citations for minor infractions, and Department of Justice is now pushing for local police to have the same authority as the INS to arrest and deport immigrants. The Mission, in particular, has seen a growing crack-down, coinciding with the appearance of a new police captain. A community meeting on 4/30 will present Mission residents with an opportunity to speak-out against this injustice.

Hundreds of Middle Eastern immigrants are in California jails after coming forward to comply with a new rule to register with immigration authorities, only to wind up handcuffed and behind bars. On 12/18/2002, Iranians and others missing family members protested outside the INS office in Los Angeles. As originally reported on 12/16, a new order issued by Attorney General Ashcroft requires male non-citizen immigrants and visitors from 18 Arab and Muslim countries to be interviewed, photographed, fingerprinted and registered by federal authorities. Those who fail to comply face criminal charges and immediate expulsion from the country.

A lawyer describes the detainees as legal residents who in some cases may not have their paperwork in order due to government backlog. Islamic community leaders say many detainees had been living, working and paying taxes in the US for up to a decade and had families there. The INS refuses to release figures on the number of immigrants detained in the past week; corporate media reports that nationwide about 1/4 of the registrants are now in crowded detention centers.

First they came for the Islamic Fundamentalists and I did not speak out because I was not an Islamic Fundamentalist. Then they came for those from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya and Sudan and I did not speak out because I was not from those countries Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me

12/23/2002: The INS has detained hundreds of individuals from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya and Sudan who voluntarily went to the INS office to register. Ms. Banafsheh Akhlaghi, an attorney from San Francisco, reports that the detainees have been treated inhumanely: shackled, standing for hours, no drinking water, 2-3 hours sleep, and confinement. Many of the detainees of the Los Angeles branch of the INS have been released, many without bail. However, detainees are still in jail, some since Dec. 5th, in other regions including many from the Bay Area. Photos Video Audio

1/10/2003: Hundreds of people gathered outside the INS offices in SF today, calling for an end to the detentions and forced registrations of non-citizen immigrants and visitors from 18 Arab and Muslim countries. Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 Audio: 1 | For more information about upcoming INS protests, listen to this audio interview by SF Liberation Radio.

Hundreds of Middle Eastern immigrants are in California jails after coming forward to comply with the new rule, which was put into effect on 12/16. to register with immigration authorities, only to wind up handcuffed and behind bars. Those who fail to comply with the new ruling face criminal charges and immediate expulsion from the country.

A lawyer describes the detainees as legal residents who in some cases may not have their paperwork in order due to government backlog. Islamic community leaders say many detainees had been living, working and paying taxes in the US for up to a decade and had families there. IMC-LA | IMC-San Diego

4/25/2003 marks the latest deadline for BCIS special registration, this time for nationals of Bangaldesh, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait and Indonesia. In response, antiwar, civil rights, and other groups have once again joined together to protest the unjust registration and detentions of Middle-Eastern and South-Asian visitors and immigrants. The SF rally is scheduled for noon-1:30pm at 444 Washington St.; tune in to Enemy Combatant Radio coverage from 8am to 3pm.

Thousands of immigrants from dozens of countries have been subjected to INS (now BCIS) special registration, with many detained and brutally treated. The FBI has begun compiling detailed information on mosques and Middle Eastern communities. Pakistani immigrants, fearful of detentions, have attempted to enter Canada, only to be stopped at the border and returned to the US. The latest victims of the police-state roundup include Professor Sami Al-Arian and Michael Hawash, who is being detained as a material witness under secret warrants issued at the request of the Justice Department. Refuse and Resist | Blue Triangle Network