2 Lodi residents refused entry back into U.S.

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | August 26, 2006 | Demian Bulwa

[kinoxi]

Muhammad Ismail, a 45-year-old naturalized citizen born in Pakistan
I have no sympathy.

[operation clinton cleanup]

said Mass, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union.

What a surprise.

[Dov in Houston]

Too Bad. Bloods thicker than water. And probably patriotism too.

Keep em out of the USofA

[LeoWindhorse]

the United States needs to amend the Constitution to allow for the citizenship of such people proven to be involved in deeds against America to be permanently revoked .
Without appeal .

[Kozak]

Federal authorities said Friday that the men, both Lodi residents, would not be allowed back into the country unless they agreed to FBI interrogations in Pakistan. An attorney representing the family said agents have asked whether the younger Ismail trained in terrorist camps in Pakistan.

Doesn't sound so onerous to me. Answer the questions or don't come back.

[Delta 21]

Lets see. You are a muslem with a known associates that is a terrorist and you are returning after 4 years from a country that has muslem terrorist training camps and you find it offensive that you are being given heightened scrutiny upon trying to return to this country?

GOOD ! ! !

[river rat]

Once again.....Pakistan and their cockroaches in the news....
There is a definite pattern there....

Semper Fi

[gas0linealley]

Make these guys an offer they can't refuse:

"Bring me the head of Osama BinLaden"

[Jubal Harshaw]

Are you people insane? An agent of the executive branch of the federal government, deciding for himself, without a trial, or even an indictment, that US Citizens should be barred from the country? That's OK with you? Maybe these two are dangerous, but that's what we have a court system for. If these two have done something illegal, then they should be indicted and tried. If the government wants to coerce them into talking about any possible criminal activities in which they may have engaged, then this line comes into play : "nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself?"

This is an absolutely outrageous overreach on the part of some federal agent, who should have been fired yesterday for this action.

[1rudeboy]

Get ready to be trampled.

[ElCid89]

""""Are you people insane? An agent of the executive branch of the federal government, deciding for himself, without a trial, or even an indictment, that US Citizens should be barred from the country? That's OK with you? Maybe these two are dangerous, but that's what we have a court system for. If these two have done something illegal, then they should be indicted and tried. If the government wants to coerce them into talking about any possible criminal activities in which they may have engaged, then this line comes into play : "nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself?"

This is an absolutely outrageous overreach on the part of some federal agent, who should have been fired yesterday for this action.""""

I agree, some fed barring US citizens from entry into the country is a very dangerous precedent. I can't believe he's doing this on his own. If there's a reason to suspect them of something they should be taken into custody and charged with something; otherwise, this agent whoever he/she is doesn't have a leg to stand on. Given that the admin. has even fined airlines for discriminating against Muslims, I can't believe higher-ups are allowing this to happen. Methinks there's a lot more to this story than is being reported.

[investigateworld]

Sorry, but natural born citizens can be detained and interviewed when they return from aboard. The degree of questioning depends on where you've been, what you did.
Then there is the small matter that they aren't on US soil.

[ndt]

"Get ready to be trampled."

Sad but true. Stripping the rights of a United States citizen with out any presence of a trial nor even leaving charges is insane. Anyone who would support such a move is quite literally an enemy of the state in my book.

[Kozak]

Try to enter the US sometime while refusing to answer the questions of a customs agent.

[P-40]

they were on the government's "no-fly" list

It sounds like they may have already had their day in court...and may have been avoiding more by staying outside of the country. Other than that, I'd agree with you although it does bring up the issue of making a criminal case against them or an intelligence one. If the latter....good luck to the prosecution...they will need it.

[1rudeboy]

We are not talking about detention. We are talking about being denied entry.

[Dov in Houston]

Question please

Are you related to any known terrorists ?

Just a question please and I seriously doubt you are however these two were and that makes more than probable cause to disallow re-entry. I am a Natural US Citizen (for generations) and if it is in the best interests of the USA to disallow me entry when I am returning from a foreign/anti american/islamic country

Than SO BE IT

[kinoxi]

I apologize if I have offended you. Pakistani's are implicated almost 100% of the time. This is not USA, this is global. I had a friend after 9/11 who was a Sikh. I walked him through much of his life thereafter. He did not complain.