Countdown

Two Strikes Against Secret Arrests and Closed Immigration Hearings

Volume III, No. 14
Posted on Friday April 5, 2002

President Bush Jolts Into Action: Powell Dispatched To Middle East

After an agonizing week of casualties and reports of even more resistance to the latest Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, President George Bush declared “Enough is enough”, calling on both Palestinians and Israelis to return to efforts leading to negotiations. With a somber Secretary of State Colin Powell by his side, the President roundly criticized Chairman Yasser Arafat for missing many opportunities to pursue peace and for not ending terrorism by militants opposed to Israeli occupation. He also clearly said that Israel must withdraw from its current offensive and that settlements activity must cease, one of the Mitchell Commission recommendations that has not be accepted by the Sharon government. In the aftermath of the President’s speech, Israeli authorities agreed to allow Special Envoy Anthony Zinni to meet with Arafat while preventing an EU delegation from doing the same. Violence in the Palestinian areas continued, however, as Israeli forces won’t have to face Secretary Powell until late next week, giving them more time to carry out their mission.

Leaders Make Recommendations To Secretaries of State and Treasury

Arab Americans met with the Secretary of State Colin Powell on Wednesday to discuss the Israeli drive into Palestine and the Administration’s policy towards Iraq. Five recommendations were presented to the Secretary, four of which were included in the President’s message Thursday morning. Missing was the need for peacekeeping forces and urgent humanitarian assistance. Later, Arab Americans and American Muslims met with Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill to discuss Muslim charities under investigation in the U.S. and the raids on Muslim offices and homes in Northern Virginia and Georgia. Secretary O’Neill was emphatic in stating that his primary role since 9/11 is closing down and preventing funding for terrorism. Under Secretary for Enforcement, Jimmy Guleré, explained the process by which target groups are identified, indicating that a strong criminal case must be built by an interagency task force before approval from the Attorney General and the Secretary. Impressed by his recent trip to the Middle East, Mr. O’Neill said that there should be no obstacles for Islamic financial institutions in this country. Both he and Mr. Guleré indicated that there will be an internal investigation of alleged abuses committed during the March 20-21 raids. The group raised concerns about the freezing of assets of Muslim organizations that are under investigation, but not charged, while the Jewish Defense League, whose members are under federal indictment, has not had its assets frozen. One positive note was the possibility for affected Muslim charities, as part of the appeals process, to obtain a license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control to have their funds distributed by other approved organizations so that humanitarian programs can continue.

Two Strikes Against Secret Arrests and Closed Imigration Hearings

A New Jersey Superior Court declaring that “secret arrests are odious to democracy,” granted the American Civil Liberties Union access to records of INS detainees held in jails in Hudson and Passaic countries. This is the first ruling in the national concerning detainees held since 9/11 and parallels a similar case brought in federal court on behalf of all the detainees. Since 9/11 the federal government has refused to give out the names, dates of entry, ages, nationalities, and locations of detainees rounded up in the United States. In Detroit, a federal judge ruled that a Justice Department policy to close immigration hearings deemed of “special interest” to the 9/11 investigations, is unconstitutional. This represented the first federal decision against tactics used by the government in the 9/11 investigations, rejecting the contention that closed hearings were necessary to protect national security and the integrity of the investigation.

...While Local Police Cleared to Act on Behalf of INS

There is growing concern about the news that the Justice Department is preparing an opinion that authorizes state and local law enforcement agencies to enforce immigration laws. This will presumably clear the way for local authorities that wish to do so to arrest and detain persons based on suspected immigration law violations. Previously, the police were required to have extensive training in immigration law. That may no be the case. Most mayors of major cities have rejected this authority in past, citing harm to community relations and ineffective use of resources in what amounted to racial profiling.