‘I was stripped of my shoelaces, dignity because of my nationality’

‘I was stripped of my shoelaces, dignity because of my nationality’

Ejaz Haider
Why is the US Government allowing its Immigration and Naturalisation Service to stomp all over America’s image as the land of liberty, freedom?
On January 28, two agents from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INS) arrested me outside my office at the Brookings Institution.

In a matter of moments I was transformed from research scholar at a venerable Washington think tank to suspect, from a person with a name and a face to a ‘‘body,’’ a non-person.

I was put in a car, taken to a detention centre, locked in a cell, and stripped not just of my belt and shoelaces but of my pride and dignity—all because of my nationality.

As a visiting scholar from Pakistan, where I am an editor, I had visited the State Department and attended functions with senior U.S. officials. But as far as the Justice Department was concerned, I was someone to be stalked and brought in by burly federal agents.

I am only one of hundreds of victims, from Pakistan and elsewhere, who have suffered such indignities under the absurd new policy that requires foreign nationals from numerous Muslim countries to register with the INS: the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System.

Many have fared far worse than I. For more than a century, people from all over the world have come to the United States to escape repression and enjoy its freedoms.

Perhaps for the first time in American history, we are witnessing the spectacle of families migrating from the United States in search of safety. It is argued that this policy is meant to increase security for the United States.

A worse way of doing so could hardly be imagined. The policy is an attempt to draw a Maginot line around America. Not only is it likely to fail in securing the homeland, it is creating more resentment against the United States.

Does America need a policy that fails to differentiate between friend and foe? Not only has the Justice Department designed such a policy, it has authorized the INS, arguably the most inefficient of the bureaucratic organizations, to implement it.

The argument that, as a Brookings scholar, I should have known or did know about the registration policy is wrong. On October 22, 2002, I was registered at the airport. I was told to return for a second interview on or before December 2.

But before that date I learned that Pakistan was not on the INS list of countries. I checked with the INS help line and was told that I did not need to go in for a second interview. Later in December, Pakistan (along with Saudi Arabia) was put on the list and the INS issued another deadline for registration, sometime in February. But even then, the registration requirement related only to Pakistani nationals who had entered the United States before September 30, 2002.

I did not know I was in violation of the INS policy. Brookings did not know I was in violation. My friends in the State Department did not know I was in violation. And if—even after following the policy closely and calling the INS for information—we could not understand the law, what hope can there be for the cabdriver or the restaurant worker?

The Justice Department’s job is not foreign policy, and part of its duty is to prevent both American citizens and legitimate visitors from doing or suffering harm in this country.

The INS should keep a watchful eye on potentially dangerous foreigners, but it must do a much better job of distinguishing them from the vast majority of foreign nationals in this country who seek only to work, study and obey the law.

As matters stand, the policy draws on the ‘‘us vs. them’’ syndrome. The very question of ‘‘why they hate us’’ is begotten of the binary logic of terrorism and does incredible damage by removing the distinction between the U.S. government and America, between the official United States and American society.

The irony is that confusing these two distinct categories is the big achievement not of ‘‘terrorists’’ but of the U.S. government itself. There are many people out there who may not, and do not, agree with U.S. policies, but neither do they hate America. Mere rhetoric about Islam’s being a great religion or the fact that the war on terrorism is not a war on Islam or even that registration is not about racial and religious profiling will not do.

People out there are neither stupid nor intellectually challenged. It does not serve any purpose for the United States to test their intelligence. (LA Times-Washington Post)

well, how can i put this, innocent people from islamic countries are given hassle in the states, innocent citizens of the states are 'legitimate' targets to be killed by people from islamic countries, i know which one i'd rather be.

i would imagine it is humiliating to be questioned and detained just because of a persons nationality, it is also frustrating to be questioned and threatened with detention (and loss of holiday) because a person has no luggage for a flight (as happened to me).

however, after september 11 we are all living in a climate of fear, i work on the london underground, a probible next target, if the authorities were to ban all muslims from traveling on the underground i wouldnt think it fair but would be relieved as i want to live.

it is dreadfull that it has come to this, but the whole world is going to be a more dificult place to live after 9/11.

These reactions will come up after Twin Towers. Here in Sweden three Swedish nationals were forced off a charter flight because of accident of birth ; being born in Arabic country. The airline company is now being scrutinized by the anti-discriminization ombudsman.
It is understandable ( I could easily see myself feeling , but not acting out,the same way in september)- but dangerous to accept. Sometimes it is precisely the things we do to protect ourselves - as individuals or communities - that ignites the conflict.
What would happen in the minds of the people who regularly could not go down to the undergound or up on the plane ? Would they (who are these "they" anyway?) really be less dangerous ?

as only an ordinary citizen all I can say, I am sorry and unhappy for all who suffer unjustly be it because of your goverment or predudices.

I am in full AGREEMENT with the US government inregard to the treatment of Pakistanis nationals residing in the U.S. Let us not for a moment forget that without the Pakistanis, both government and individuals, the Taliban would NEVER have come to power in Afganistan, and the resulting events of 9/11!! Let us not forget that only 3 nations had diplomatic ties with the Taliban, UAE, Saudi Arabia and PAKISTAN! You are judged by the company you keep, the Pakistanis kept the lowest of the low as their friends, possibly proteges!! I am even more surprised that this individual should reply to this website which fosters India and not Pakistan as a tourist heaven! Why don't you complain to President Musharraf!!

to littlejackuk

whilst i think it is correct for america (and everyone else) to view people from islamic countries with a little suspicion after 9/11, and i am also 100% behind america and their allies in the war on terrorism, i think your comments are not fair.

america were supplying the taliban with weapons for their fight against the russians (right or wrong, that is the way the world was at the time).

US deports Indo-Canadian woman, sparks row


Toronto, Feb 15

The Canadian government said it will investigate what happened to a Indo-Canadian woman, who was pulled aside at Chicago's O'Hare Airport and deported to India after US officials accused her of obtaining a false passport.

Kerala-born Berna Cruz was in tears January 27 when US Immigration and Naturalization Service officials denied her consular assistance, cut the front page of her passport and threatened her with jail after suspecting her passport was a fake, the Toronto Star reported.

"We're aware of the case concerning Ms. Cruz and Canadian officials are investigating the incident.

"Canadian officials in Washington will discuss the matter with American officials once we're fully aware of all of the facts," said Department of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Marie-Christine Lilkoff.

Reports said that an Immigration and Naturalisation Services officer, who was at the arrival counter, called Berna Cruz's passport photo 'funky' and took her to a separate room for questioning by a group of officials.

She was asked how she could have a Latin name. The officers were not convinced when Cruz, who was born in Thiruvananthapuram, told them that her family is from Goa, where such names are common.

US officials, who believed that she obtained her passport in Sri Lanka, photographed, finger-printed and barred Cruz from re-entry to the United States for five years. They also marked all of her passport pages with "expedited removal" stamps.

"It was a total abuse," Cruz told the Toronto Star, saying she was repeatedly denied a phone call to consular officials. US officials refused to listen to her when she denied it was a fake and offered other identification cards.

"It was humiliating. What I felt was that it was total discrimination, racism," she said, noting that she was taken in an airport room with other dark-skinned people.

Cruz sent a letter to the Canadian prime minister complaining about her deportation and lack of consular access.

Once deported, she received an emergency visa from Canadian officials in Dubai and returned to Toronto via London.

the behaviour of many INS officials at us airports is disgusting..personally , i am delighted i do not have to travel to usa.. or canada !

how does one react as a country - someitmes i feel we should retaliate..but then where would that get us ?

Following up on the Cruz story and I quote from WorldNetDaily.com.