1) Men from five more nations to register in U.S.
By James Vicini

WASHINGTON, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Men from Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan and Kuwait will be added to the list of foreign visitors who must register with the U.S. government under a controversial anti-terrorism program, Justice Department officials said on Thursday.

They said nationals from the initial five countries covered under the program -- Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan and Syria -- who missed the deadline will get a second chance to register.

Also getting another chance to register will be nationals from the 13 countries -- Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Eritrea, Lebanon, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, Somalia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen -- for whom registration ended on Friday, the officials said.

Failure to register by the specified deadline can result in possible deportation and criminal prosecution, they said.

The registration, which applies to males at least 16 years old, has drawn criticism from some Arab and immigration groups who complained that Middle Eastern men were unfairly targeted.

The U.S. officials said the addition of five more countries would bring the total to 25 nations covered under the program that began in September aimed at temporary foreign visitors who present increased national security concerns.

The program requires the visitors to be fingerprinted and photographed when they enter the United States.

Initially announced in June, the registration was prompted by concern about the lack of records on tourists, students and other foreign visitors after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

"We recognize after September 11th that we must have a better understanding of who is entering and exiting our country," Attorney General John Ashcroft said in a statement announcing the additional five nations.

The foreign visitors must give detailed information about their backgrounds and the purpose of their visit, must periodically verify their locations and activities and must confirm their departure from the United States.

Foreign male visitors from Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan and Kuwait will have from Feb. 24 to March 28 to register. They must have entered the country before October and will remain here at least until March 28.

CONGRESS REQUIRED PROGRAM

Congress has required that a comprehensive program be in place by 2005 to track virtually all of the 35 million foreign visitors who come to the United States each year.

For whose who missed the deadline to register, they will be able to register again between Jan. 27 and Feb. 7 without penalty, the officials said.

They said the grace period for these individuals was extended because some did not learn about the registration requirements in time.

The program resulted in the arrest of hundreds of Iranians in California last month, sparking widespread panic in Arab and other Muslim communities across the United States.

The registration period for certain males from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, two U.S. allies in the war on terrorism, began on Monday.

The officials said European nations have had a similar registration system in place for decades. They said the countries selected are places where Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network or other terror groups have been active or where the United States has other "national security concerns."

They said nearly 1,000 individuals have been temporarily detained under the program for being unlawfully in the United States and violating immigration law. About 170 now are in custody.Fifteen people have been detained nationwide because of criminal convictions.

The registration does not cover legal permanent residents, refugees, asylum grantees, certain asylum applicants and diplomats.

01/16/03 13:14 ET

2) REGISTRATION ALERT for males from Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, and Kuwait

The fourth group of individuals required to comply with the Immigration and Naturalization Service’s "Special Registration" program has been announced in the January 16, 2003 Federal Register.

Males from Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, and Kuwait 16 years of age or older must register in-person with the INS if they entered the U.S. in non-immigrant status on or before September 20, 2003 and will remain in the U.S. after March 28, 2003.

Please read on for more information on Special Registration:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REQUIRES "SPECIAL REGISTRATION" FOR CERTAIN MALES RESIDING IN THE U.S. TEMPORARILY

Certain male citizens and nationals of 26 different countries who are in the United States must now register in-person with the Immigration and Naturalization Service. This registration requirement also applies to dual citizens or nationals. If you are required to register and you fail to do so, there may be serious negative consequences, potentially including arrest, detention, deportation/removal, criminal penalties, and/or future problems with legal entry into the U.S.

WHO?

In general, an individual must register if he is 16 years or older, is a national or citizen of any of the below-listed countries, and was inspected and admitted as a non-immigrant before the date specified for his group.

You do not need to register if: 1) you are a lawful permanent resident of the United States; 2) if you have an application for asylum pending; or 3) you have been granted asylum.

GROUP 4

Group 4 consists of males from Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, or Kuwait.

Group 4 males must register if they a) were born on or before February 24, 1987, b) entered the U.S. on or before September 30, 2002 and c) will remain in the U.S. after March 28, 2003.

The registration period is from February 24, 2003 until March 28, 2003.

GROUP 3

Group 3 consists of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Group 3 individuals must register if they a) were born on or before January 13, 1987, b) entered the U.S. before October 1, 2002 and c) will stay in the U.S. after February 21, 2003.

The registration period opened on January 13, 2003 and the deadline is February 21, 2003.

GROUP 2

Group 2 consists of males from: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Eritrea, Lebanon, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, Somalia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates ,and Yemen.

Group 2 males must register if a) born on or before December 2, 1986, b) last entered the United States prior to October 1, 2002 and c) will stay in the United States after January 10, 2003.

The initial registration period was between December 02, 2002 and January 10, 2003 but has been re-opened. Individuals from Group 1 and Group 2 countries can now timely register between January 27, 2003 and February 7, 2003.

GROUP 1:

Group 1 consists of males from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, and Syria.

Group 1 males must register if a) born on or before November 5, 1986; b) last entered the U.S. before September 10, 2002, and c) will remain in the United States after December 16, 2002.

The initial registration deadline for registration was December 16, 2002, but has been re-opened. Individuals from Group 1 and Group 2 countries can now timely register between January 27, 2003 and February 7, 2003.

WHERE?

Individuals residing in Massachusetts, should report to the INS at the JFK Federal Building, Government Center, Boston, MA 02203. The INS website lists the registration locations for each state: www.ins.usdoj.gov

INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED

At the registration interview, individuals will be fingerprinted and photographed. They will be required to answer questions of an Immigration Official under oath. They will also be asked to provide:

1) Travel documents, including passport and I-94 card

2) Proof of residence such as rental agreement

3) Proof of employment

4) Proof of enrollment at educational institution

LEGAL COUNSEL

Registrants are allowed to bring legal counsel (at their own expense) with them to their registration interview.

Note: This alert is brought to you by the law office of Roselli & Vasudeva, LLP. It is intended only to inform people about the existence of the Special Registration Requirements. It is not legal advice and is not an endorsement of the registration program.

3) Court Debates Law on Jailing Immigrants

By GINA HOLLAND
.c The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Civil rights lawyers urged the Supreme Court on Wednesday to strike down a law requiring immigrants convicted of certain crimes to be locked up indefinitely - even after serving their sentences - until a deportation hearing is held.

The case predates the Sept. 11 attacks. But it puts the court in a debate over the rights and treatment of immigrants and raises some of the same civil liberties questions posed on behalf of foreigners since the government has taken steps to better track them after the attacks.

It's the first time since the attacks that the justices debated a case with direct implications for the government's war on terror, though the attacks weren't mentioned during the arguments.

Bush administration lawyer Theodore Olson told justices that the case is about public safety and immigrants who break the law and no longer have a right to be in America.

The justices will decide by this summer if the government can lock up without bail immigrants who have been convicted of certain felonies, served their time and are awaiting deportation proceedings, which can take years.

Many members of the court seemed untroubled by a 1996 mandatory detention law that does not allow for a bond hearing at which immigrants could try to win release by arguing they are not a public safety risk.

``That doesn't strike me as terribly unreasonable. Just don't do the felony,'' Justice Antonin Scalia said.

American Civil Liberties Union attorney Judy Rabinovitz told justices that some people who are jailed are not dangerous and would not flee if they were released on bail. She also said not all immigrants who are imprisoned end up being deported.

Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist said Congress had a valid reason to impose the mandatory jailings - data showing that more than 20 percent of criminal aliens who were allowed to remain free during deportations proceedings fled.

``We don't allow people to be locked up based on averages,'' Rabinovitz responded in a sharp back-and-forth exchange with the chief justice.

The ACLU's client, Hyung Joon Kim, was convicted of breaking into a tool shed and shoplifting. After serving his prison sentence, Kim immediately was jailed without bond by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Kim, who moved to America from South Korea when he was 6, challenged the detention as a violation of his Fifth Amendment right not to be ``deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law.'' He won in lower courts.

Several of the justices seemed sympathetic to Kim, who was 18 when he got in trouble with the law. Justice David H. Souter pointed out that the people who will be affected by Kim's case are lawful residents of the United States until the final deportation order.

Some justices also questioned whether they could even consider the appeal, because of a provision of the law limiting court oversight.

Kim, a student at San Jose State University, was not at Wednesday's hearing, but other immigrants held a vigil outside the court.

``People make mistakes. But people can learn from those mistakes and become better citizens,'' said New York mechanic Haniff Mohammad, who was in prison two years awaiting deportation to Trinidad after being convicted of possession of stolen property.

He is free now, but like other immigrants with convictions he would be put back in prison if the Supreme Court rules for the government. ``Every day you live in fear,'' said Mohammad, hugging his 4-year-old daughter.

The case is similar to other immigrant cases the court has reviewed in recent years. Justices ruled that legal aliens convicted of certain crimes are entitled to a hearing before they can be ordered out of the country, and that the government cannot indefinitely detain immigrant criminals if their home countries will not accept them.

The case is Denmore v. Kim, 01-1491.

On the Net:

Supreme Court: http://www.supremecourtus.gov

American Civil Liberties Union: http://www.aclu.org/

01/15/03 16:54 EST

4) What is Special Call-In Registration & How is it impacting Thousands around the country?

* In November, 2003, Attorney General John Ashcroft issued a directive to
register men and boys over the age of 16 years from a list of 20 countries
with the Department of Justice. These registration requirements mark the
latest in an unending series of attacks on immigrants rights and civil
liberties since September 11th, 2001.

* The DoJ barely allowed 2 weeks notice for boys and men AROUND THE
COUNTRY to come in and register for the first deadline which was on
December 16th. Most communities affected say that the DoJ did not notify
the communities suffiently or in some cases at all.

* Registration involves being digitally photographed, fingerprinted and
interrogated under oath. Interview questions include names and addresses of
parents, friends and American contacts, date and location of entry to the
US, religious practices and if one has committed terrorist activity. The
INS officer may also ask to see travel documents, any government-issued
identification, proof of residence, proof of school matriculation and proof
of employment. Many people are being arrested for not having "sufficient"
documentation with them when registering.

* The consequences for not registering include criminal charges and
deportation, yet hundreds have faced arrest, detention, deportation,
interrogation and criminal penalties even after complying. People arrested
include those with pending greencard applications or pending adjustment of
status applications.

* Following the first deadline, reports say that between 1,000 and 2,500
men from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan or Libya have already been arrested,
with many detained in inhumane conditions. Immigrant groups and news
sources have reported overcrowded jail cells, detainees being hosed down
with cold water, shackled and transported to other states.

* The deadline to register for "nonimmigrant" men from Afghanistan,
Algeria, Bahrain, Eritrea, Lebanon, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Qatar,
Somalia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen is coming up January
10th, 2003

* The deadline for "nonimmigrant" men from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is
February 21st, 2003

* Over the past 15 months, thousands of Arabs, South Asians and Muslims
have been detained with over 99% not charged with any crimes related to
terrorism. The Campaign to Stop the Disappearances, along with over 20
civil rights, community and faith-based organizations is calling for an
immediate end to the registration initiative and the release of all those
currently being detained since the 9/11 sweeps began.

5) Write to Passaic County Warden and demand better conditions for Detainees! - Support the Hunger Strike
By: CHRI

As of 10 am Tuesday January 14th, five men started a hunger strike to
protest their detention by the INS and demand improvements in food, health
care, air quality and physical contact family visits, and a resumption of
the Friday Islamic services the prison provided until a month ago.

Detainees at Passaic have also reported that the air diffuser grills are
blocked up and appear not to have been recently cleaned. There is a lot
of dust, the air quality is poor and there is a white substance (possibly
asbestos) coming down from the ceiling. Certain areas also have old
exhaust fans with the grills stuck facing inwards. As punishment for
prisoners, officers turn them on, letting in outside pollution. At times,
prisoners can smell the carbon monoxide from outside units on the roof.
There are also frequent roof leaks and complaints of roaches. Write to
the Warden to demand better conditions.

Warden Charles Meyers
11 Marshall Street
Paterson, NJ 07501
Phone: 973-881-4620; FAX: 973-881-2485

6)U.S. Defends Guantanamo Detentions

By PAISLEY DODDS
.c The Associated Press

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba (AP) - A year has passed since the first detainees captured in the war on terrorism arrived at this outpost, raising questions about the length of the mission and when, or if, the prisoners will be tried.

U.S. attorneys are reviewing international law to see how it could be applied to military offenses. But no decisions have been made and no preparations are underway for trials in Guantanamo.

At least four detainees deemed not to be threats have been repatriated. But others continue to be interrogated and the mission's commanding general said Thursday that U.S. officials would press ahead with a mission that has yielded ``valuable information.''

``We're making progress every day,'' Army Maj. Gen. Geoffrey D. Miller said of interrogations into the suspects' alleged links to the fallen Afghan Taliban regime or al-Qaida terrorist network.

The first detainees arrived Jan. 11. Now this remote U.S. camp on Cuba's eastern tip houses more than 620 prisoners from 41 countries, held in a legal limbo that has caused visible strain.

Ten men have tried to hang themselves, said Navy Capt. Al Shimkus, who heads the camp hospital.

The prolonged detentions and interrogations of prisoners, who are not allowed lawyers, has provoked criticism from human rights groups.

``What the United States has effectively done is create a 'human rights-free zone,''' said Curt Goering, senior deputy director of British-based Amnesty International's U.S. office. ``It's a deeply frustrating situation because the U.S. government has long prided itself on human rights but has discarded them in this case.''

The Guantanamo mission takes on particular importance as the United States nears a war with Iraq and looks for allies in its expanded fight against terrorism.

The mission goal has been to extract information, but if there is a war, officials aren't ruling out the possibility of sending traditional POWs to Guantanamo.

Critics warn the government's refusal to give the detainees POW status could backfire on U.S. troops.

But Miller defended their treatment of the prisoners, saying ``Should our servicemen and women be in the same position, I would hope they would be treated in the same humane manner.''

Although weary of the uncertainty, some detainees have settled in, guards say. Some have even started flirting with female guards - a switch from early days when many would avoid eye contact with females, according to Capt. Judith Brown, 35, from Lexington, Ky.

The men's health has improved in the months since they abandoned a hunger strike to protest their detentions. Now, they're hoarding food and most have gained an average of 13 pounds.

``It's weird because we were with some of these guys from the very beginning when they were captured in Afghanistan,'' said Marine Lance Cpl. Ray Gilbert, who was in one of the first groups to be deployed to southern Afghanistan after Sept. 11. ``I still remember some of the men's faces.''

He now guards the fence between Guantanamo and Cuba - a sharp contrast to the action he saw in Afghanistan.

``I feel sort of left out now,'' said Gilbert, 21, from Richmond, Ky. ``But I'm still happy to be here.''

01/17/03 03:22 EST

7) Take Actions to Support Detained Immigrants!

Call or fax Attorney General John Ashcroft (phone 202-353-1555, fax
202-307-2825) and INS District Director Edward McElroy (phone 212-264-3972,
fax 212-264-5439) to demand an end to these round-ups immediately! A sample
letter is provided on the reverse side.

Sample Letters:

John Ashcroft US Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20530-0001
Fax: 202-307-2825

Mr. Ashcroft,

I am writing to express my anger at the current program of Special
Registration for men from 20 countries. Requiring people to register on the
basis of ethnic origin and immigration status is the worst form of racial
profiling. The targeting of specific countries of origin generally in the
Middle East, South Asian area, and more and more immigrant communities shows
pre-meditated racism. As well, the targeting of people who are not Legal
Permanent Residents or Citizens reeks of xenophobia.

I am also outraged at the use of these registrations to effect the detention
of immigrants from these areas. According to the New York Times, the
detentions reached such large numbers in Los Angeles that the INS ran out of
plastic handcuffs. The entire program has the appearance of mass roundups
similar to the internment of the Japanese during the WWII, and other
occasions in this country's history of which we are all ashamed.

I am a member of the community organization(s) _____________________ I can
assure you that our organization is outraged and mobilizing. We will not
allow the United States to become the kind of country where people are
rounded up and detained on the basis of national origin. We will not be
party to this racism and xenophobia.

In fury,
[Your name]
____________________________________________________________________________

Edward McElroy
District Director UBS
26 Federal Plaza New York, NY 10278

Mr. McElroy,

I am writing to express my anger at the current program of Special
Registration for men from Muslim and other countries. Requiring people to
register on the basis of ethnic origin and immigration status is the worst
form of racial profiling. The targeting of specific countries of origin in
the Middle East, and South Asia, shows pre-meditated racism. As well, the
targeting of people who are not Legal Permanent Residents or Citizens reeks
of xenophobia.

I am amazed that the New York district of the INS, a district that has one
of the largest and most diverse immigrant populations in the United States,
has allowed itself to go along with this program. Surely, living in New York
City has had some sort of impact on your policies? Surely, you can see the
racism of rounding people up based on their ethnic origin.

I am also dismayed that you have not publicly gone on record to state how
many people have been detained in this process in the New York district.
Apparently you are afraid of public reaction to this mass roundup. How long
do you think you can keep this information as your own guilty little secret?

I am a member of the community organization(s) _____________________ I can
assure you that our organization is outraged and mobilizing. We will not
allow the United States to become the kind of country where people are
rounded up and detained on the basis of national origin. We will not be
party to this racism and xenophobia.

In fury,
[Your Name]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information here is compiled by the Coalition for the Human Rights of
Immigrants (CHRI) - Detention Working Group, in consultation with other
groups organizing visitation, support and advocacy for immigrants in
detention.

***Thanks to those who have called, faxed and written. Many cases in past
bulletins have been quickly resolved. 60 detainees have been transferred
from the horrendous conditions in Passaic to the better conditions of
Hudson County Correctional. Letter Writing Works!. Applying pressure with
fax zaps and letter campaigns has convinced many officials and politicians
to provide needed medical treatment, expedite bond releases and voluntary
departures and deportations. Visitation is a lifeline for detainees and
our advocacy helps.****

STOP THE DISAPPEARANCES!
Our demands:

1. Release all detainees being held for immigration violations.
2. Repeal the racist Patriot Act, the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform
and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA), and the 1996
Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act.
3. Release a real list of all 9/11 detainees.
4. Provide detainees with immediate, full and proper access to legal
information and representation.
5. Ensure all facilities used for detention meet the INS standards for
detention.
6. Inform detainees of when they will appear before a judge, be released,
or be deported.
7. Stop holding detainees who have been granted bond or ordered removed.
8. End all cooperation between the INS and local law enforcement.

The goal of the Campaign to Stop the Disappearances! is to end the
detention of immigrants. We do not believe that immigrants should be
imprisoned because of their immigration status. Writing letters and doing
visitations are tools we are using to build an ongoing campaign, directed
by the priorities and needs of detainees, their families and their
communities. The campaign was launched on Martin Luther King Day, January 21, 2002 and
seeks justice and due process for detainees.

The Campaign to Stop the Disappearances! is:

Coalition for the Human Rights of Immigrants (CHRI)
339 Lafayette St.,
New York, NY 10012
chri@itapnet.org
212-254-2591

Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM)
73-16 Roosevelt Ave. 2nd Flr.
Jackson Hts., NY 11372
drum@drumnation.org
718-205-3036

Prison Moratorium Project
388 Atlantic Avenue, 3rd Flr.
Brooklyn, NY 11217
pmp@nomoreprisons.org
718-260-8805

Check our web site at www.itapnet.org/chri for updates and detainee profiles.

Please copy all correspondence to detentionalertnyc@yahoo.com