I can't understand why the Bush administration continues to take actions that directly violate the Constitution and contradict the values of American society.
The last of such actions is a new anti-terrorism measure under which Middle Eastern men are forced to register with authorities and be fingerprinted.
The special registration policy has been presented as a national security measure to prevent potential terrorist threats. In spite of that, the Immigration and Naturalization Service has been using the registration process to not only enforce immigration law but to arrest and deport people who have complied with the law at every stage and are on the road to becoming permanent residents.
The mass arrests make people lose confidence in the credibility of the immigration system. People who go voluntarily to register with immigration officials end up handcuffed and behind bars to face deportation proceedings.
I just don't know how the INS expects more people to show up for registration.
Can you imagine how hard those moments were for the detained men and youths and their family members? They are treated as if they acted as opposition to the U.S. government. They feel betrayed by the country that once offered them a safe haven.
Most of the detained came from countries that have no democratic political systems. They escaped from that hell and came to 'the American Paradise' to enjoy 'freedom' and 'human rights.' Now, their freedom is locked up and their rights are ignored.
I don't think I need to emphasize the fact that the immigrants contribute immensely to the prosperity of this country. Look around and you'll see people from many different countries in all kinds of professions. Discriminating against immigrants unleashes fright and apprehension in the society.
Almost all immigrants made technical violations to the INS regulations. Instead of enforcing the laws with exceptional zeal against immigrants from particular countries, why doesn't the INS consider reforming and stabilizing its ever-shifting system?
The INS can't be blamed for its efforts to have better control over immigration. The INS is to be blamed for trampling on human rights and for its biased policy of targeting particular groups of immigrants who are eligible to apply to legalize their status based on family relationships or their employment.
Once upon a time the Jews in Europe were considered 'bad guys' and forced to wear armbands to distinguish them from the 'good guys.' History repeats itself these days. The idea of requiring Middle Eastern visa-holders to be fingerprinted caries the same discriminating mentality.
It seems that the Bush administration is unable to deal appropriately with consequences of Sept. 11. The INS special registration program singles out people from mainly Muslim countries and does little to protect America from the threat of terrorism.
Shrinking the range of freedom and taking away civil liberties from people are the real dangers of the new INS program.
Racism makes America face threats of decline. It goes against the basic principles of the country which were to secure freedom and civil liberties, not compromise them.
Write to Fahad at fahad765@yahoo.com
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