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