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N.Y. Muslim group held at border
NY Daily News ^ | 12/30/2004 | LESLIE CASIMIR

Posted on 12/30/2004 2:08:16 PM PST by Marine Inspector

Carloads of Muslim New Yorkers, all U.S. citizens, were detained for hours by federal agents after they returned from an Islamic convention held in Toronto over the weekend. A Pace University student said she was asked by a border patrol officer at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge crossing whether the wire in her bra was a weapon. A white Flushing resident said U.S. officials refused to tell her why she was being held for eight hours.

"It's just appalling," said Jean Tassi, 53. "If I didn't have on a head covering, I would have never been stopped."

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection official said agents acted on intelligence that conventioneers may have terrorists in their cars.

"We understand that most of these conferences are legitimate, but it is our duty, it is incumbent on us to verify the identity of everybody entering the U.S. - even citizens," said Kristi Clemens, a Washington spokeswoman. "I understand their frustration."

More than 30 people had attended "Reviving the Islamic Spirit" convention at the Skydome that was billed as a spiritually uplifting event.

"I refuse to be treated like this in my own country," said Miriam Soliman, 20, a Brooklyn-born finance major who said she was interrogated about her underwire bra.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: New York
KEYWORDS: aliens; bcbp; bigbrother; billofrights; bordersecurity; cbp; fingerprints; islam; muslimamericans; religionofpeace; terrowar; trop; usconstitution; waronterror; whiningmuslims; wtcattacks
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To: marvlus

F them all and strip search all of those rag-heads. Yes, I do hate muslims they killed my friend and many other Americans on 9/11. Rackem, Stackem and Packem over to the mecca and then nuke it. Thanks be to God!!!!! Where the buses don't run.NSNR


121 posted on 12/30/2004 4:41:50 PM PST by No Surrender No Retreat
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To: Rodney King

I think a better phrase would be, "Get The (F)Outta Here."


122 posted on 12/30/2004 4:46:03 PM PST by No Surrender No Retreat
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To: Marine Inspector

I would say, Cool Runnin Mon.


123 posted on 12/30/2004 4:48:34 PM PST by No Surrender No Retreat
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To: RS
Kind of what I thought, but it worries me that the guy was distracted and wasn't thinking about what he was doing - If they start getting into habits, or overstepping their authority, they jeopardize us all.

I agree. Complacency is a definite problem in this agency.

124 posted on 12/30/2004 4:57:07 PM PST by Marine Inspector (Customs & Border Protection Officer)
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To: ItsForTheChildren
Sounds like it's your job.

Cool, everyone is now Muslim.

125 posted on 12/30/2004 4:57:59 PM PST by Marine Inspector (Customs & Border Protection Officer)
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To: Ginifer

Ginifer, they way I see this if you have nothing to hide why get upset? If protecting America's national security requires me being fingerprinted so be it. Only the muslims complain and the liberal demo-commies. I think one day in the not too distant future, all muslims days will be done in hell minus 72 camel virgins.NSNR


126 posted on 12/30/2004 4:58:18 PM PST by No Surrender No Retreat
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To: cake_crumb
No, the Muslims don't whine about it. The Americans whine about it.

Not one of the thousands of Muslims visitors entering through my port has ever whined. The only whiners we get are US Citizens.

127 posted on 12/30/2004 4:59:40 PM PST by Marine Inspector (Customs & Border Protection Officer)
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To: Figment
The US Government has no more right to restrict your movement from state to state then it does entering or leaving the country.

Fingerprinting and photographing US Citizens returning home is no different then a National ID or interior check points between states.

128 posted on 12/30/2004 5:02:25 PM PST by Marine Inspector (Customs & Border Protection Officer)
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To: cake_crumb

Unless there is some reason to suspect that I am not the legitimate holder of that passport, it IS my identification.

Once these people proved that they were US Citizens, and they are not listed in any wanted notices, they should not have to submit to any other identification process.


Your passport does not specify a religion.


Customs searching for contraband is another story, but if you do not submit, they should simply turn you around and send you back - you are more then welcome to complain to the US consulate in the country you happen to be in.




129 posted on 12/30/2004 5:02:38 PM PST by RS
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To: Marine Inspector
Cool, everyone is now Muslim.

Fine. Make sure you have plenty of film and ink.

You can use the DMV to verify my thumbprint.

130 posted on 12/30/2004 5:03:01 PM PST by ItsForTheChildren
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To: FreeReign
They turned out to be U.S. citizens.

CBP knew they were US Citizens and still detained them and fingerprinted them and photographed them. It's not like they found out later and that is the problem.

131 posted on 12/30/2004 5:04:13 PM PST by Marine Inspector (Customs & Border Protection Officer)
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To: Marine Inspector
I find it interesting that you have spent an inordinate amount of time castigating the failings of the INS, and now when obviously suspicious citizens are returning from an Islamic convention in Canada, you think it reprehensible that they are fingerprinted.

Do you want secure borders or not? Are you simply interested in attacking Mexicans and ignoring possible Islamacists? Why are you upset by this? Is it because the Bush administration did something right and you don't have a way to attack them?

132 posted on 12/30/2004 5:04:30 PM PST by Miss Marple
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To: Ginifer

Maybe this Marine Inspector is responsible for locating dead mullets(fish). I think the appropriate question to him is," Are you with us or against us?" After reading some of his posts, I would say against us. "Ain't Nothin But A Thing and He Don't Mean Nothin." NSNR


133 posted on 12/30/2004 5:06:07 PM PST by No Surrender No Retreat
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To: Marine Inspector

I'm just trying to figure your posts out. Are you then making a case that there should be no identification required at the border? Somebody says they're a US citizen and you'd just take their word for it?


134 posted on 12/30/2004 5:06:16 PM PST by Ramius
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To: cake_crumb; RS
They have the authority to make them submit and have for years prior to 9/11. NEVER get belligerent with a border patrol agent.

An US Immigration Officer has no authority over a US, unless that US citizen is breaking a US Immigration law (i.e. smuggling a US citizen)

INS has never had the right or authority to arrest or detain a US Citizen, unless that citizen was engaged in smuggling.

135 posted on 12/30/2004 5:06:56 PM PST by Marine Inspector (Customs & Border Protection Officer)
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To: No Surrender No Retreat
If protecting America's national security requires me being fingerprinted so be it.

Where do you draw the line? If America's national security required you to have a chip implanted in you, would you agree?

136 posted on 12/30/2004 5:08:34 PM PST by Marine Inspector (Customs & Border Protection Officer)
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To: Miss Marple

Have you ever heard of the US Constitution?


137 posted on 12/30/2004 5:10:02 PM PST by Marine Inspector (Customs & Border Protection Officer)
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To: No Surrender No Retreat
"Ginifer, they way I see this if you have nothing to hide why get upset? If protecting America's national security requires me being fingerprinted so be it."

I have no problem with it either....see my posts 12, 32, 40, and then finally 53, since "Marine Inspector" always has another hypothetical question if he doesn't like your comments.
138 posted on 12/30/2004 5:11:32 PM PST by Ginifer
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To: CAluvdubya
You seem to be getting a little "cranky".

It's your imagination.

I will go as far as necessary to get control over our borders.

How does fingerprinting citizens here in the country affect control of the borders? In fact, the bulk of border security isn't even handled by the CBP; it's handled by the Border Patrol. The CBP only deals with people who are good enough to follow the rules in the first place by entering through the proper points of entry.

139 posted on 12/30/2004 5:12:21 PM PST by inquest (Now is the time to remove the leftist influence from the GOP. "Unity" can wait.)
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To: Marine Inspector

I don't think your supervisors would like the idea of your useage of both job title and agency on the internet Marine Inspector. I think you are a phony my friend and maybe I will contact your superiors to let them know you are violating the civil service code of ethics. I am retired from a federal agency and clowns like you would have never made it through the first oral interview board. I heard OBL is hiring maybe he will accept your ilk.NSNR


140 posted on 12/30/2004 5:12:30 PM PST by No Surrender No Retreat
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