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.
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.
It doesn't say that in this article.
Absolutely not.
CBP has no authority to arbitrarily fingerprint and photograph US Citizens. As far as I know, no law enforcement agency does.
This was not about identifying who they were. That is done by checking names and DOB’s in the computer and verifying documents.
This was about keeping tabs on them.
US-passport-holding muslims were involved in the islamic terror attacks on our African embassies and in WTC1. US-born muslims have since been found training with Al Qaeda. They're already inside the wire.
Passport status (not "citizenship" status, since IMHO, jihadists can never be real Americans) doesn't require us to commit suicide.
I agree.
It's called free speach. Get used to it.
Get over yourself. You are attempting to stir up controversy with the Islamacists. I have my fingerprints on my drivers' license, my passport, and my former military dependent ID, as well as a bank card and a university student ID.
You are nothing but an incendiary.
The sad thing is I probably trained you when you attended FLETC. Truthfully I was never impressed with INS, but the Border Patrol was second to none. NSNR
What documentation was checked? Some documents can be forged -- fingerprints can't.
From the information I've see so far, this is indeed about identifying who they are.
Read the last line and see post #75
I think he is a loose cannon, bent on self-destruct mode. Ha Ha.
What he's trying to do is sound like he is educated and an intellectual on border security...based on his comments, he is neither. My grandmother always said "the smarter person gives in and moves on"...so he can bait me all he wants, but he's arguing with himself.
I see a nice lawsuit coming.....
And . .?
Really, then learn how to spell speech not (speach). Did you have a 70 average when graduating from INS Immigration Inspectors Course? I hope you were one of the ones' I made puke during physical conditioning. I really enjoyed dogging you guy's out at FLETC.
Ummm, actually it's called free "speech". spell check is your friend.
I would say "Bravo!"
Just what do you think you are doing when you are supposed to be protecting our country ?
"It's just appalling," said Jean Tassi, 53. "If I didn't have on a head covering, I would have never been stopped."
and if your "muslim brethren" hadn't killed so many folks 9/11 your headcovering and the fact you are a muslim would probably not have raised the red flag like it does now.
I hope not, the instructors there were idiots.
I've never been impressed with the INS either. I joined because I despise illegal immigration and I was determined to do something about it after I left the Marine Corps. DHS has improved things a bit, but unfortunately it took 3,000 dead Americans to wake up Washington and the waking up has been far to slow, IMO.
I was originally hired by the BP, but a Inspector position came open and thinking that would be the better route to becoming a CI, I took the II job. Big mistake. As it turned out, after working with some of the INS CI's, I'm glade I never went in that direction. By then I was too old to get back into the BP.
God forbid anyone working for the Government would dare speak out against it. I guess I should be a good civil servant and keep quite, tow the line and praise Bush every chance I get.
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