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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: CAluvdubya
That doesn't answer my question. I asked where you'd dray the line. Biometrics? Mandatory implanted RFID chips? Why be afraid to be up front about it?
81 posted on 12/30/2004 3:42:05 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
Maybe we should fingerprint and photograph everyone before they fly, just for safeties sake.

I have no problem with that. We are already checked with picture ID, why not fingerprints?

82 posted on 12/30/2004 3:42:48 PM PST by CAluvdubya (From the RED part of California)
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To: Marine Inspector
I guess you would not mind me fingerprinting you?

I am an American, and I got finger printed when I joined the Air Force in 1967. I guess they violated my rights.

83 posted on 12/30/2004 3:43:12 PM PST by Mark17
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To: inquest
dray=draw
84 posted on 12/30/2004 3:43:21 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

"Notice the Tag Lie. "

Is this another tossup to see how people respond or a typo ?

If you are in fact an officer, do you have the legal right to require photos and fingerprints from U.S. Citizens ?


85 posted on 12/30/2004 3:44:03 PM PST by RS
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To: Marine Inspector

Extra scrutiny and questioning is one thing, but fingerprinting and photographing US Citizens, because of race or religion, is a road I don't want to travel down.


Give me a break. That is just a buch of pc mumbo. Are you afraid of hurting their precious self esteem? You act like they're lyching them or something


86 posted on 12/30/2004 3:44:32 PM PST by Figment (Ich bin ein Jesuslander)
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To: weenie

LOL


87 posted on 12/30/2004 3:45:27 PM PST by Paperdoll
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To: CAluvdubya
Why do you assume that this is limited to only Muslims?

Because I've worked the border for the past 7 years.

Prior to INS being rolled into DHS, fingerprinting a US Citizen was strictly forbidden.

88 posted on 12/30/2004 3:46:37 PM PST by Marine Inspector (Customs & Border Protection Officer)
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To: Marine Inspector

We appear to be cross-posting ---

BTW - why do they sometimes ( not allways ) stamp my passport when I return ?
It seems to serve no purpose, but is wasting pages.


89 posted on 12/30/2004 3:47:50 PM PST by RS
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To: RS
If you are in fact an officer, do you have the legal right to require photos and fingerprints from U.S. Citizens ?

Read post #80, to you.

90 posted on 12/30/2004 3:48:28 PM PST by Marine Inspector (Customs & Border Protection Officer)
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To: Marine Inspector
"What would you say if I told you these U.S. Citizens were forced to be fingerprinted and photographed before CBP let them go?"

That's as it should be...and their records had better have been checked too. The same thing can happen to any of us.

91 posted on 12/30/2004 3:50:04 PM PST by cake_crumb (Leftist Credo: "One Wing to Rule Them all and to the Dark Side Bind Them")
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To: Mark17
I am an American, and I got finger printed when I joined the Air Force in 1967. I guess they violated my rights.

No, you signed your rights away, when you signed the enlistment contract.

This is an entirely different situation.

92 posted on 12/30/2004 3:50:23 PM PST by Marine Inspector (Customs & Border Protection Officer)
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To: Marine Inspector

Islam is a terrorist organization so if they attended a rally they are and should be immediately suspected of being terrorists.

When Islam quits blowing up stuff for 10 years I'll change my mind.


93 posted on 12/30/2004 3:51:23 PM PST by festus (The constitution may be flawed but its a whole lot better than what we have now !)
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To: inquest
I have been up front. Photos and fingerprinting are done for ID in all areas of life. Biometrics and RFID chips are starting to used or are being talked about so they are not out of the realm of possibility for ID. Someone can track me all they like, they will fall asleep from boredom.

You, however, have not provided any solutions that I know of. Again, have I missed a post of yours giving alternatives?

94 posted on 12/30/2004 3:51:30 PM PST by CAluvdubya (From the RED part of California)
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To: RS
BTW - why do they sometimes ( not allways ) stamp my passport when I return ?

It's not a requirement to stamp US passports, but for years and years, the majority of travelers have requested to have their passports stamped, to show they went somewhere.

Its just habit; I won't stamp a US passport unless the owner requests it.

95 posted on 12/30/2004 3:52:57 PM PST by Marine Inspector (Customs & Border Protection Officer)
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To: Figment

I assume, you would have no problem with a national ID card either.


96 posted on 12/30/2004 3:53:33 PM PST by Marine Inspector (Customs & Border Protection Officer)
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To: Happy2BMe

Number 9


97 posted on 12/30/2004 3:53:54 PM PST by antiunion person (Everything I Say is Fully Substantiated by my Own Opinion)
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To: pillbox_girl
And before you keep whining about being treated unfairly, think on this: the Japanese did less, and look at what we did to them. It could be a lot worse for you.

True. And I don't think we are doing enough, now.

98 posted on 12/30/2004 3:56:42 PM PST by ItsForTheChildren
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To: inquest

Perhaps if you'd lay down how far you're willing to go, we won't have to keep playing these leapfrog games.


OK, how easy should it be to cross international borders? You don't even need a passport to travel to or from Canada. That they would profile certain types crossing isn't the least bit disturbing


99 posted on 12/30/2004 3:57:04 PM PST by Figment (Ich bin ein Jesuslander)
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To: Marine Inspector

Like women going to the bathroom, Muslims can't seem to fly alone.


100 posted on 12/30/2004 3:57:24 PM PST by AmishDude (Official pseudo-Amish mathematician of FreeRepublic.)
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