Families of jailed Middle Eastern immigrants say rights violated

Friday December 20, 2002

By SANDRA MARQUEZ
Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) Gisroo Mohajeri clutched her pregnant belly on the steps of the downtown federal building and uttered a mother's lament: ``I feel so guilty,'' she sobbed.

Earlier this week, Mohajeri had urged her 16-year-old, Iranian-born son to voluntarily register with immigration officials under a new program. But now he faces deportation proceedings.

Mohajeri and relatives of the hundreds of Middle Eastern men and teens who have recently been detained say they feel betrayed by the country that once offered them a safe haven. Even worse for many family members is the feeling that they acted as unknowing accomplices to the U.S. government.

``I blame myself. Why I brought my son here and put him in jail. Why? Just because I followed the law,'' Mohajeri cried. ``I made a mistake.''

Immigration lawyers estimate at least 500 Middle Eastern immigrants have been detained in California since Monday, when male visa holders, age 16 and older, from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan and Syria were asked to be fingerprinted and photographed at local immigration offices or risk being deported.

Jorge Martinez, a Justice Department spokesman, said the total number of people detained in Southern California was ``in the low 200s.''

Another 500 immigrants are believed to have been arrested since the registration process began in November. Immigration officials, defending the process, have refused to release any official figures on the number of detentions.

``We need this program to better protect our borders,'' said Francisco Arcaute, an INS spokesman. ``We have a better idea of who is in this country and what business they are here for... I trust if there were any mistakes, they will be corrected for a future deadline.''

The special registration, as it is officially known, is part of new federal security guidelines that resulted from the Sept. 11 terror attacks. In the next phase, male visa holders from 13 additional countries including Afghanistan, Algeria, Lebanon and North Korea will be required to register by Jan. 10. Males from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan must register by Feb. 21.

The regulation applies to those here on temporary visas, including tourists and students. Naturalized citizens, diplomats, green card holders and those who were granted political asylum are exempt.

The program has provoked the ire of civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, which on Thursday called on the government to ``scrap the flawed and misguided'' program, or to at least extend the deadlines so that complaints can be addressed.

``The INS roundup is confused, ineffective and deceptive,'' said Salam Al-Mayarati, executive director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council. ``It is clear these measures erode our freedom, yield no enhanced security and serve to damage America's global image.''

U.S Representative Jane Harman, D-Redondo Beach, also called on the INS to explain its actions.

Said Arcaute: ``They should immediately notify INS headquarters in Washington. We are glad to listen to their concerns.''

At least one immigration lawyer saw some cause for optimism.

Michelle Taheripour, an immigration lawyer working to secure the release of a dozen of her clients, said INS officials had agreed to waive bail for detainees whose bonds had been set below $5,000.

Many of the detainees were expected to be released by late Thursday, Taheripour said. Those detainees will be asked to return to immigration offices at a later date for questioning.

``It's a great relief to actually tell loved ones to go home. They are actually going to see their family members by this evening,'' Taheripour said.

Zahra Modjarrad, a psychologist who fled Iran on foot for Pakistan 22 years ago, said she too felt relief when her medical student son was released from detention Wednesday.

But she worried about the long-term emotional effects of his detention, which included a body search with a flashlight, she said.

``His spirit has been broken very badly because he was the person who never had any problems in his life,'' Modjarrad said.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)