Hundreds of Muslim Immigrants Rounded Up in Calif.

Reuters ^ | 12/18/2002 | Jill Serjeant

[John Lenin]

By Jill Serjeant

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."

[John Lenin]

It's not like they are going to miss celebrating Christmas ...

[xm177e2]

You don't think any Arab Christians have been arrested?

[cmsgop]

Ooops! Got Allah ?

[John Lenin]

The law is the law.

[optimistically_conservative]

If INS and DOJ can justify detaining 500-1,000 immigrants for criminal acts, so be it.

Honestly, I think Ashcroft's bulb is on the same circuit with Lott's.

Is he making it safer for me by handing government to the Democrats?

[San Jacinto]

You don't think any Arab Christians have been arrested?

If so, who cares?

If someone was arrested, it means they were not in compliance with the immigration laws. That means they are subject to arrest, and hopefully deportation.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

They are being treated as criminals and that really goes against American ideals of fairness, and justice and democracy," Khan said.

Yup, life is hard, then you die. In the meantime, don't come into this country, break its laws, then complain we're not fair. Buh bye.

[dagnabbit]

... those arrested had violated immigration laws, overstayed their visas, or were wanted for crimes

Fine by me. Next issue please.

[John Lenin]

Why have laws if we don't enforce them ?

[kristinn]

INS spokesman Arcaute said those arrested had violated immigration laws, overstayed their visas, or were wanted for crimes.

We had to read halfway through this "news" story to learn why these people were being held. The propaganda is thick and heavy, but at least one sentence of truth was included here.

[MonroeDNA]

About time.

[Diana Rose]

To all those who think you are being screwed by the US

Tapping my finger to my chin...Now who messed up your play house?

Answer: The Terrorists.

Now go whine to the real people who ruined your good thing.

[sheik yerbouty]

Shi'ite happens!

[dagnabbit]

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?."

Freepers shouldn't let this cr@p go unanswered too long.
"Open Borders = 9-11"

[CARepubGal]

"Happy Holidaaays to you" I must say I feel a great sense of relief now. Hope the INS gets more jehadis soon and starts deporting the bastards.

[Shermy]

I don't see Saudi Arabia or Yemen on the list. Looks like our cold war "enemies."

[eastforker]

The time is near folks.Just rounding up a few who are not supposed to be here when the s$it hits the fan in the next week or so,and it is about time dammit!

[Rodney Dangerfield]

"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.
And neither will criminals when it comes to Gun Registration.

[Palladin]

This was long overdue. What are we supposed to do--sit on our hands while illegal immigrants and those on phony or expired visas get in their cropdusters and spread a plague all over California?

[lawdude]

""What happened to liberty and justice?." "

They left them in a pile when they became criminals.

[dalebert]

Maybe some of these guys can ask for liberty and justice in their own country. What good does it do them to come all the way over here and ask for it from us?

[Publius6961]

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.

Hmmmmmmm.
I'm gonna have to research how many Japanese back then were here illegaly.
And how many of those arrested now are legal residents or citizens.
I have a feeling...

Does the ACLU have third graders as spokesmen now?

[lawdude]

This expert signed on on 12-17-02! Troll.

[tet68]

I'm going to say this again, after 100 thousand americans are sick and disabled, after 20 or 30 thousand americans are laying dead in the street from a Islamist bioattack, these same people will be clamoring to be PUT into protective camps.

It's coming, and anyone who can't or won't see it is going to be blindsided.

Buy lots of ammo today!
Spend time at the range!
Go over those Y2K left overs!

Consider what that will mean, say 30 thousand dead, 90 thousand infected in a city of say Atlanta's size.
Martial law certainly. Not all citizens are lawabiding, some
would see this as the oportunity of a life time, a chance to loot and wail. The hospitals would be swamped, the authorities would have no choice but mass burial or incineration to prevent the spread of disease.
Picture what England went through with mad cow only worse.

It won't be pretty folks.
Try and think ahead.

Remember, Al quida haven't stopped, hamas hasn't stopped, Hezbulla haven't stopped, they are only getting started.

[Publius6961]

Hundreds of what? !!
Immigrants?

Try criminals and illegal aliens.

[Republic of Texas]

" "What's next? Concentration camps?" "

Not a bad idea. We are just to weak to actually do it.

[Revolting cat!]

It looks like the geniuses at the INS are adept at something after all! Shooting fish in a barrel, if you axe me!

[dagnabbit]

I read elsewhere that S.Arabia has been added. Don't know about Yemen. This seems to be the pattern at DOJ. They introduce new policies starting with the designated state-sponsors of terrorism, and then add other Arab/Muslim countries. I must say I'm quite pleased and pleasantly surprised by the actions. Like others here have said, however, we also need to stop (or at least radically reduce) the admission of these folks in the first place. Otherwise we're "mopping the spill with the tap still open".

[lawdude]

"Why have laws if we don't enforce them ?'

Enforcement only applies to Whites Christians and Conservatives!

[dighton]

"It is reminiscent of what happened in the past with the internment of Japanese Americans . . . ," said Ramona Ripston, the ACLU's executive director.

Reminiscent to some, but the two situations have little in common. In WW II, law-abiding US citizens of Japanese descent were interned. The new arrestees are not US citizens and have broken this country's laws. They are subject, in the ordinary course of things, to jailing, deportation, or both.

[AngrySpud]

"All my friends are inside (jail) right now ... "

Well, Mr. Trapici, you obviously hang with the wrong crowd. Birds of a feather flock together. You were released, only so you can be tracked.

[John Lenin]

It's a good move, now they have a list of the ones who didn't show up. Those are the ones we send the posse after.

[Dec31,1999]

Give him a chance.

[optimistically_conservative]

Sorry,

I would have signed up sooner, but I just got back from being stationed overseas for a few years.

Let me see, yep left about a year before you signed up for FR.

I was kind of busy for a while, but I'm glad to be here now.

[Capt. Tom]

I don't see Saudi Arabia or Yemen on the list. Looks like our cold war "enemies

On Fox TV last night, Heather Nauert noticed that Saudi Arabia and Yemen weren't on the INS list. She notified the Govt. of that loophole and they agreed they had made a mistake and would have them come in at a later date.

Of course now the Saudis and Yemenis with violations are less likely to show up. - Tom

[slimer]

Why have laws if we don't enforce them ?

Laws are created for perception to convince people that the government is in control, which it is, just not in the way it is perceived.

Are your tax dollars working for you?

[piasa]

. "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.

Like these are American ideals of fairness, and justice and democracy:

"those arrested had violated immigration laws, overstayed their visas, or were wanted for crimes."

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

I don't think so, Tim... if they were in violation of immigration laws, had overstayed their visas, or were out committing crimes, they were not paying taxes' and you know it.Sales taxes when buying food maybe, but that's about it. I don't want them or their families here. Let's just stick with welcoming legal immigrants and quit trying to blur lines and give illegals moral equivalency to lawful immigrants. Quit trying to accomodate people who don't respect our laws.

[philetus]

In a related story:
Felons in state and federal prisons demand that they all be released too.

[Dec31,1999]

Welcome back and welcome to Free Republic. Thank you for your sevice to our great nation.

[John Lenin]

Laws are always enforced selectively, we have so many laws it's hard for the average citizen to go through one day without breaking some law that is on the books somewhere.

[Capt. Tom]

"All my friends are inside (jail) right now ... "

All your friends are belong to us now. - Tom

[piasa]

And for those illegal immigration rights activists out there, since when is patriotism or devotion to country measured by paying taxes and squeezing out kids?

[HighWheeler]

"The arrests sparked a demonstration by hundreds of Iranians outside a Los Angeles immigration office."

Thanks for making the next round-up that much easier.

[Dec31,1999]

Of course now the Saudis and Yemenis with violations are less likely to show up. - Tom

It's an important message that has been sent to the bums. Many of them will now vacate the premises. As for those arrested, cry me a river.

[Concerned]

THE ARTICLE STATED: "They are being treated as criminals..."

That's because they ARE CRIMINALS!!!

[A6M3]

Reply to post #1: If they don't like their treatment, they can return to their country of origin.

[BunnySlippers]

Interesting in that there was absolutely NO coverage about this in the local print or video news. Liberals haven't even taken up the cause.

[Life of Brian]

I think the title of this story is misleading. These are nationals from other countries not necessarily muslims, though I'm sure some are.

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.

[TLI]

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.

Nice pilot program for expansion to round up the illegal Mexicans

OOPS!  Too many votes, never mind, no laws broken there!

The whole thing just pi$$e$ me off.  Glad they got the ragheads out but hey, if the mexicans are willing to vote ILLEGALLY, the polytricksens will kiss their a$$e$.

If the government will get all the illegals out then we go back to a level playing field.  THAT is what the libs are afraid of, playing by the rules.   What a bunch of WIMPS.