U.S. Muslims Hail Scrapping Visitor Registration Program

U.S. Muslims Hail Scrapping Visitor Registration Program

WASHINGTON, December 2 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Muslims in the
United States lauded the Bush administration's decision to scrap a visitor
registration program that primarily targeted males from predominantly Muslim
countries and drew fire from civil liberties groups.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Monday, December 1, invalidated
rules introduced after the September 11 attacks ordering visitors from 25
Middle Eastern countries to register at intervals with U.S. authorities,
reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Under the dumped National Security Entry Exit Registration System (NSEERS),
the visitors had to reregister with authorities after 30 days or a year
continuously in the U.S.

They further had to show up at intervals to be photographed, fingerprinted
and interviewed by immigration officials, which was branded by several
rights groups as a blatant violation and infringement on the rights of
immigrants.

While tens of thousands of immigrants met the requirements, several hundreds
were kicked out of the country, many for overstaying their tourist visa.

Critics viewed the re-registration requirement , and the entire registration
process, as being designed to create "deportation traps" targeting Muslims
and of little value in promoting national security.

Asa Hutchinson, the department's undersecretary for border and
transportation security, told CNN that the decision would allow immigration
officials to focus on those who may not be complying with their visa
conditions, not on "broad categories" of men from specific countries.

But he warned that the old rules could be used again if a terrorist attack
takes place that is linked to a specific country.

Welcomed

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), America's largest Islamic
civil liberties group, welcomed the move as a positive step that would bring
relief to thousands of people in the States.

"Today's announcement will no doubt bring relief to thousands of people who
are anxious about being singled out and discriminated against when visiting
the U.S.," CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad said.

"We appreciate the government's decision to eliminate the special
registration program, which has done little to promote security and has
alienated thousands of law-abiding visitors to our nation," he asserted.

Awad stressed that any new screening procedures "should not be based on
religion, ethnicity or national origin, but instead reflect the American
values of equal justice and religious freedom."

CAIR board member Azhar Azeez said the rule's withdrawal could give impetus
for ending other policies introduced after 9-11, referring to the
controversial Patriot Act, which grants federal authorities broad powers of
surveillance, making it easier to employ wiretaps and monitor e-mail.

"There's a very huge opposition across the country of the Patriot Act, too,
so this whole thing is picking up speed, and that's a good thing, because in
my personal opinion, the Patriot Act is the most unpatriotic act this
country has ever written," he told The Associated Press.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit against  the Act
on behalf of six advocacy and community groups from across the country whose
members and clients believe they are currently the targets of investigations
because of their ethnicity, religion and political associations.

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