Posted on 01/12/2006 6:31:54 AM PST by A. Pole
Immigrant and Arab-American organisations say a post-September 11 security measure designed to identify potential terrorists is continuing to target visitors from Muslim countries unfairly, even though the Bush administration said it had intended to eliminate the scheme in favour of a universal registration requirement for travellers to the US.
The national security entry/exit registration system (NSEERS), a controversial system first implemented in September 2002 by the Justice Department, established a national registry for temporary foreign visitors who were identified as potential security risks or who came from one of 25 countries. The countries designated by NSEERS are predominately Muslim, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia.
NSEERS became a lightning rod for critics who charged that the US was targeting all Muslim visitors – including those already inside the US – in a heavy-handed effort to identify terrorist threats. Roughly 83,000 people already in the US registered under the programme but 14,000 of those faced deportation proceedings after they were found to be in the country illegally.
Senior homeland security officials, including the former secretary, Tom Ridge, had said the scheme could be ended after the administration set up its US-Visit border control programme, which requires all travellers to the US to give fingerprints as proof of identity. But with US-Visit now largely in force, the administration has maintained much of the NSEERS.
In a letter on Tuesday to Michael Chertoff, the homeland security secretary, James J. Zogby, the president of the Arab American Institute in Washington, called for an immediate end to the programme, saying it was unproductive and singled out “individuals based on national origin and penalising them for their co-operation.”
He added: “[The programme] has instead compromised the relationship between law enforcement and the Arab and Muslim immigrant communities and damaged the US image abroad while failing to contribute significantly to national security.” The US has curbed the programme since setting up US-Visit but identified visitors remain subject to interview.
Yeah blame us for it. Blame us for the fact that muslims have got a reputation for blowing things up.
I would prefer that we target them "accurately".
Perhaps a Leupold 4x9 with black matte finish and a .300WSM would do the job?
Stop the butchering and this will change by itself. Continue the world wide butchering and this will get worse, much worse.
And for vowing to murder every infidel including women and children for no reason except that they are not muslim.
Maybe we are being irrational.
Killing Americans just because they're Americans. To your typical lib, that's fair. Just don't lay a finger on the mooooosies.
Police your own, or get over it.
"Immigrant and Arab-American organisations say a post-September 11 security measure designed to identify potential terrorists is continuing to target visitors from Muslim countries unfairly..."
Cry me a river.
You're right.
The best way to stop this "unfair" treatment is to keep you from visiting.
Win-Win. We don't want you here at all and you avoid "unfairness".
There is no universal right to visit the United States. If you don't like the way we do things, stay the hell home. They just push and push, don't they? Had I been in charge, after 9/11 no visitors from Muslim countries would have been allowed in whatsoever, nor Muslims from Western Europe or Asia. Our security is more important than their travel plans.
"Killing Americans just because they're Americans. To your typical lib, that's fair. Just don't lay a finger on the mooooosies."
Americans opress poor women and minorities the world over. We're only getting what we deserve [/liberal weenie voice]
A 'fox in the hen house' is a fair target.
Who are we supposed to target? Little old ladies in wheelchairs who keep getting wanded at US airport security checkpoints?
September 11th was a real event. It was not a movie. All the perps were Muslims.
Putzes.
When the camel jockeys quit blowing up folks;
we'll quit screening them.
next...
They hate the West. Why are they here ?
If it makes the jihadists unhappy, then it must be a good thing...
BWAHAHAHAHA! Are they THAT stupid?
Yes, I agree. They are being targeted unfaily. ALL muslims need to be targeted, not just those now entering.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.