EFFECTIVE BORDER SOLUTION
Posted on 8/18/2004, 11:34:55 AM by kattracks
(CNSNews.com) - Government efforts to protect Americans from terror attacks are meeting with strong resistance -- and now a lawsuit -- filed by civil liberties and immigrant-rights groups.
They claim that since the 9/11 attacks, U.S. immigration officials have investigated, detained and deported thousands of immigrants across the nation -- frequently immigrants from predominantly Muslim countries, the liberal activists complain.
Several groups in Illinois are now suing the federal government, seeking information about the number and nationality of people detained or deported by the federal government in the State of Illinois since the 9/11 attacks.
The lawsuit specifically seeks information about the National Security Exit/Entry Program, known as Special Registration, which required thousands of immigrants to submit to registration and questioning.
According to the Illinois chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, "Reports across the nation indicated that many long-time residents were detained or deported after they voluntarily appeared as part of the Special Registration program."
The ACLU says the lawsuit also seeks information about the number and nationality of people detained or deported in Operation Tarmac, Operation Chicagoland Skies, Operation Landmark and Operation Liberty Shield -- all aimed at non-citizens working at Chicago-area airports or in high-profile office buildings.
Finally, the lawsuit seeks information about people detained under Section 412 of the USA PATRIOT Act, a measure that allows the Attorney General to detain non-citizens who are deemed national security risks.
The plaintiffs include the ACLU/Illinois, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, the Midwest Immigrant and Human Rights Center, and the Muslim Civil Rights Center.
They want a federal judge to require the Homeland Security Department to "end nearly a year of 'stonewalling' and divulge information about troubling and discriminatory immigration enforcement activities" since the 9/11 attacks.
In a press release, the plaintiffs noted they are "all committed to civil liberties and due process for non-citizens in the United States." They are "seeking this basic information to understand the scope and impact of the post-9/11 policies that have had a dire effect on immigrants and immigrant communities here in Illinois."
"Governmental openness and transparency are cornerstones of our democracy," said Adam Schwartz of the Illinois ACLU in announcing the lawsuit. "No government agency should be able to simply stonewall such a request -- especially when the policies we are seeking to understand have such a dilatory impact on our friends, family members and neighbors who are not yet U.S. citizens."
"As we approach the third anniversary of the September 11 attacks, our government is still keeping us in the dark about the secretive activities it undertook in the name of national security," said Fred Tsao of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
"We have seen the devastation that measures like special registration have had on our families, but nothing to show that these initiatives have made us any safer. Only with the data we are seeking can we develop wiser policies that will truly target terrorists without harming well-meaning and hard-working immigrants and families," Tsao added.
"Members of the Muslim and Arab community have experienced the heavy-handed nature of many of these enforcement activities," said Ahmad Tansheet of the Muslim Civil Rights Center. "We want to understand the degree to which these policies have unfairly targeted members of our community who pose no threat, simply because they are Muslim."
The groups say they filed a Freedom of Information request with the Homeland Security Department in September 2003 but say they have not received a response.
Their federal lawsuit asks the court to enforce the federal Freedom of Information Act and compel the Department of Homeland Security Department to release the information.
""Members of the Muslim and Arab community have experienced the heavy-handed nature of many of these enforcement activities," said Ahmad Tansheet of the Muslim Civil Rights Center. "We want to understand the degree to which these policies have unfairly targeted members of our community who pose no threat, simply because they are Muslim.""
Are they legal? Simple question to answer.
If nothing is done in Washington.
FDR had the right idea with the "Jap-Americans" in WW2 -- the stakes are even bigger now. Something needs to be done to get these creeps out of the way.
>>Are they legal? Simple question to answer.<<
If we going to keep our borders open to the illegal Mexicans why shouldn't we keep them open to all nations? Enemies included.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1193521/posts?page=52#52
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1193718/posts
IMHO, the ACLU is pure evil.
Same difference --- if a million Mexicans can easily make it over the border with shipments of cocaine and whatever, then thousands of terrorists can get over the border just as easily.
From your mouth to the Lord's ear.
No, they are very nice people...who are more than willing to sacrifice our lives in defense of their collectivist principles. ;)
>>Same difference --- if a million Mexicans can easily make it over the border with shipments of cocaine and whatever, then thousands of terrorists can get over the border just as easily.<<
You mean that we are trying to protect America with our demands for closed borders?
bayourod is positive that we are the most racist sob's on the face of the earth.
Plus bayourod doesn't seem to care what massive immigration is doing to Mexico --- it's a sure formula for disaster in that country. I guess that would ensure an endless supply of dirt-cheap servants for whoever wants some. That seems pretty racist to me.
We'll be much better off when they've deported MILLIONS of them.
Landmines would work well too.
BTTT
IMHO, the ACLU is pure evil.
Indeed. Join the fight against the ACLU and their ilk by becoming involved with and supporting the following organizations:
American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) - http://www.aclj.org
Thomas More Law Center - http://www.thomasmore.org
Alliance Defense Fund - http://www.alliancedefensefund.org
If by "we" you mean the voters who are being targeted by Buchanan/Tancredo, then yes by definition you are a racist. Buchanan's political strategy is to undermine President Bush's support among voters who are racists in key battleground states such as New Mexico and Arizona.
Racists don't publicly admit that they are racists, they find some feeble excuse to hide behind. This year the excuse is "terrorism." But they don't fool anyone because they're the same ones who were using "dilution of our culture" before 9/11.
In 2008 there will be a 3rd party candidate whose popularity will stagger the establishment as he/she runs on an anti-illegal immigrant platform.
The bad news is that it may be too late by 2008.
ping
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