Posted on 08/07/2002 4:54:49 AM PDT by Pern
WASHINGTON – Many of the more than 1,200 Muslims arrested after the Sept. 11 attacks were turned in by their friends and relatives over petty disputes, lawyers and social workers say.
The first government crackdown after Sept. 11 focused on those with links to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist organization; 1,200 people were held in the phase that lasted from Sept. 21 to Nov. 30, 2001. The U.S. government's second phase, which started April 14, targets 300,000 people, most of whom have violated their immigration status.
Official records seen by United Press International tell tales of separated families and betrayal.
Fast-Food Feud
In the greater Washington area, two rival Pakistani-run fast-food franchises each reported illegal workers at the other; 80 Pakistani nationals were arrested.
In other cases, in-laws led immigration officials to estranged spouses, often over minor domestic disputes.
"At least 25 percent of the detainees were betrayed by someone they trusted," says a Muslim social worker who provides legal advice to those in trouble.
"Sometimes local Americans were more helpful than fellow Muslims," said the social worker said, displaying several pamphlets published in Urdu, Persian, Arabic, Hindi and Bengali by American Civil Liberties Union.
The pamphlets tell Muslim immigrants living in the United States what to do and whom to approach when confronted by officials from the Immigration and Naturalization Services. It tells them of their rights and ways to defend themselves.
At least 18 Pakistanis contacted the embassy in Washington, asking the staff to report a particular person to the police or immigration officers because he refused to lend his car to them or failed to return money.
Imran Ali, a Pakistani diplomat who provides consular assistance to immigrants in trouble, said many lawyers – mainly Muslim, but also American – exploited the situation.
"They often gave them wrong advice, asking them to apply for political asylum or change their address or simply run away from the police," said Ali.
Once Again: Clinton's Damage Never Ends
According to Ali, many Muslim immigrants sought by the INS came to the United States during the Clinton era when immigration controls were not strict.
A large number of immigrants from rural Punjab province in Pakistan came with forged visas.
"The credit goes to a gang of expert forgers operating in those areas in the 1990s," the social worker said.
Once they cleared a U.S. port of entry, most Muslims, like other aliens, never went back, not even after their visas expired.
"But unlike other immigrants they were not good at legalizing their stay," says a Muslim lawyer who helped some of them. "Instead of trying to join the mainstream, they were content with working at jewelry shops, grocery and liquor stores and gas stations as illegal workers, receiving less than minimum wage."
Legal Weasels
Ali, of the Pakistani Embassy, said that when they thought of legalizing their stay, lawyers told them how to "dodge the system rather than ... find a way within the system."
The most common advice was applying for political asylum.
"Overnight, students, cab drivers and businessmen became political workers, claiming discrimination at home," said the lawyer.
Because most had no political background, their applications were rejected. Lawyers then told them to marry American women to avoid deportation. However, once an order is issued, it is almost impossible to avoid deportation.
Many returned home and applied for immigration at a U.S. mission.
After Sept. 11, many of those who were married to U.S. citizens and had been living here for years were also arrested.
"This led to many tragedies. Families got separated. Husbands and fathers were deported while wives and children were left behind," says Ali who saw several families "being ruined."
"And it's not just the emotional stress. Many small businesses went bust because those who were running the shops or restaurants were deported and those left behind were too young and inexperienced to replace them," he said.
Forgiveness, a Christian ideal, not an Islamic ideal.
Me? I would rather focus on the first question.
I don't care who turned them in.
Or why.
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.