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Oakland Tribune/Tri-Valley Herald – April 25, 2004 Muslim groups target of laws By Melissa Evans April 25, 2004 - FREMONT -- Muslim and Arab groups in California have borne a "substantial" share of scrutiny through new laws and immigration policies enacted in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, according a report by the state Senate Office of Research. Requested by two Fremont lawmakers, the report analyzes controversial portions of the USA Patriot Act, which expanded the government's policing powers. The law includes special registration requirements for Arab men and new laws regarding foreign students. Researchers, however, found it difficult to get information. The Department of Justice Office of Inspector General "would not divulge instances of abuse," according to the report. And researchers were told the government does not answer questions on individual cases of those found in violation of immigration law. Leaders in the Muslim community are not surprised. The lack of information has a created a culture of "fear, anger, anxiety and frustration," said Samina Faheem, a local civil rights activist. "Then they have the nerve to say (the new laws) haven't affected anybody," said Faheem, founder of an organization called American Muslim Voice. State Sen. Liz Figueroa, D-Fremont, and Assemblyman John Dutra, D-Fremont, requested the report after receiving numerous complaints from individuals and Muslim civil rights groups. A spokesman for Figueroa's office also said the request stemmed from the number of cities and counties that have passed resolutions opposing the USA Patriot Act. In California, 206 municipalities -- including Alameda County and Union City -- have urged lawmakers to reconsider the legislation, which was passed 45 days after the Sept. 11 attacks. Dutra said he plans to hold a series of hearings later in the year to gather more evidence on the effects of the government's new policies. "It's very disturbing to hear about what appears to be ethnic profiling in the Muslim community," he said. "These are American citizens and individuals who deserve respect." Dutra was referring to several anecdotes contained in the report, including one story of a Middle Eastern man who was detained for 21 days after receiving an e-mail hinting of terrorist activity, which he reported to authorities. The man still faces the possibility of deportation. Similar stories can be found all over the state, local leaders say. Though researchers found it tough to get hard numbers on effects of the USA Patriot Act, they were able to gather data regarding the special registration of men from 25 Arab countries -- a program that began in 2002 but has since been disbanded. The report shows 93,741 men who were ordered to register across the country, with 13,799 ordered into deportation proceedings and 143 charged for criminal activity. http://www.oaklandtribune.com/cda/article/print/0,1674,82%257E1865%257E2107555,00.html http://www.trivalleyherald.com/cda/article/print/0,1674,86%257E10669%257E2107529,00.html |