Arab American Institute: Discriminatory Samoan Policy Would Ban Arab Americans

U.S. Newswire ^ | December 18, 2002

[new cruelty]

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Under current American Samoan policy, Arab Americans including Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, OMB Director Mitch Daniels and Senator-Elect John Sununu are banned from entering the island. On Aug. 7, American Samoan Attorney General Fiti Sunia issued an alert denying entrance to all persons of "Middle Eastern descent." Once more, the Attorney General cited the U.S. State Department as the cause of this discriminatory policy. The alert states, "because of reports from the U.S. State Department, until further notice or written approval from the Attorney General, American Samoa will no longer issue entry permits to any individual of Middle Eastern Descent."

The discriminatory policy came to light after the Samoa News reported that a Samoan citizen of Middle Eastern descent filed a lawsuit to force a repeal of the policy.

The Samoan alert goes further, institutionalizing and outlining the manner in which ethnic profiling should be used in order to keep all persons of Middle Eastern descent, regardless of nationality, from entering the island. It orders officials to "take special note of arriving passengers and all other individuals seeking entry to the territory for persons with middle eastern surnames and features."

AAI has written to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft asking for an immediate investigation. AAI has also written to Interior Secretary Gayle Norton and to Samoan Attorney General Sunia asking for the repeal of this offensive regulation.

"American Samoa is an unincorporated U.S. territory and to think that they can violate U.S. law this way is outrageous! This is a blatantly bigoted policy and one that should not be allowed to stand. Attorney General Sunia should apologize," said AAI President Dr. James J. Zogby

[End Times Sentinel]

Gosh, I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't go to Samoa.

 

Owl_Eagle

" WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH"

[DonQ]

Nobody mentions if Jews are counted as being of "Middle Eastern descent".

[spodefly]

"American Samoa is an unincorporated U.S. territory and to think that they can violate U.S. law this way is outrageous! This is a blatantly bigoted policy and one that should not be allowed to stand. Attorney General Sunia should apologize," said AAI President Dr. James J. Zogby.

If Zogby hates it, I like it. Can we extend this policy to the entire US?

[Guillermo]

The Arab American Institute (for the Furtherance of Terrorism) can go jump in a lake.

[smalltown]

So, when Jesus comes back, I guess Samoa is out-of -luck.

[Guillermo]

Yeah, let's be overly Multicultural and PC using your reasoning.

Makes sense.

[Publius6961]

Under current American Samoan policy, Arab Americans including Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, OMB Director Mitch Daniels and Senator-Elect John Sununu are banned from entering the island.

Give me a break! I am positive that this cannot and does not apply to US citizens.
What kinda morons does U.S Newswire hire anyway?

As to the policy? I say Hooooray! and wish our local bureaucratic leeches would take note...

[Shermy]

The discriminatory policy came to light after the Samoa News reported that a Samoan citizen of Middle Eastern descent filed a lawsuit to force a repeal of the policy.

Hezbollah cell?

[Publius6961]

BUMP!

[dighton]

What kinda morons does U.S Newswire hire anyway?

They're an outlet for press releases, like the more honestly named PR Newswire.

[rmlew]

If the policy was what the AAI claims, which it is not, teh ADL would be complaining becuase it would bar many Jews.

[jiggyboy]

You win today's Straw Man Award.

[jiggyboy]

A local article from the period eliminates some of the concerns (A.S. residents are allowed back in), but it appears that non-residents such as Spencer Abraham et al are indeed excluded.