Posted on 12/18/2008 8:06:41 AM PST by HollyButler
Attorneys for 10 Somali men held in an immigration detention center in South Texas allege that federal immigration officials segregated and interrogated their clients after they left a Muslim prayer service, saying they were subject to "discriminatory and unethical" questioning.
Lawyers for the asylum seekers said the men — detained at the South Texas Detention Complex in Pearsall — were targeted because they were Muslim and from Somalia. The lawyers contend that their clients were segregated into a separate dormitory for two to three days after they left a Dec. 8 prayer service at the detention facility celebrating the Muslim holiday, Eid.
The Somalis were not given the opportunity to contact their lawyers, according to a letter the attorneys sent Monday to several federal agencies including the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
Carl Rusnok, a spokesman with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the agency is researching the allegations in the letter, which was forwarded to ICE's public affairs office Tuesday by a Houston Chronicle reporter. Rusnok declined to answer a reporter's questions Wednesday.
"Until that research is completed, no further specific information is available on the issue," Rusnok said.
'They were scared' According to the attorneys, nine of the 10 Somalis were interviewed in English without the aid of a translator, and some reported having difficulties understanding questions.
The men were asked questions such as whether they participated in radical groups, had military training, had studied computers and had "ever violated anyone," according to the letter. They were also asked, "What does it mean to be a Muslim?" their lawyers said.
The questioning reportedly led one client to break down in tears
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
“They were also asked, “What does it mean to be a Muslim?” their lawyers said. The questioning reportedly led one client to break down in tears”
Effing lightweights when no one’s back is turned.
Oh boohoohoo.
They were locked up for a reason! Just get rid of the bastards! Ship them back! Iand when they are found on a pirate craft, HANG THEM!
You would think that if this were such a discriminatory and oppressive country they wouldn’t be trying so hard get in. Like the old saying goes; “Nobody breaks into jail.”
How do Somalis get to south texas in the first place. I cannot afford to fly to Hawaii.
I figured it out! They were on their way to Minn. to cast votes, with ACORN help for Franken!
The bad guys aren’t here for opportunity. The bad guys come here to spread their sedition against America (through agitation, Islamic missionaries, and domestic terrorism).
I am not drawing a conclusion that these are among the bad men who mean harm for this country. But I won’t bury my head in the sand and pretend that there are no bad guys of Islamic supremacist ideology in America.
Ever hear what the final prosecution of the men who dragged the bodies of dead US soldiers through the streets of Somalia was?
I didn’t.
Houston Ping
“Lawyers for the asylum seekers said the men — detained at the South Texas Detention Complex in Pearsall — were targeted because they were Muslim and from Somalia.”
It’s pretty hard to think of two better reasons.
....harass them all the way back to Somalia
ping
Geeze, I’d LOVE them to ask me what it means to be a Christian. They’d get the Good News!
“The questioning reportedly led one client to break down in tears”
I hope the client was a little girl because thats what it was acting like.
“Lawyers for the asylum seekers said the men — detained at the South Texas Detention Complex in Pearsall — were targeted because they were Muslim and from Somalia.”
Ok, so where’s the problem??
Pearsall ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
Maybe being Muslim is what caused him to cry.
Any allegations are now going to be handled as if the criminals are in the right.
Ping!
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