In light of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., the Immigration and Naturalization Service is requiring Middle Eastern males to register with its office.
All males — including students — who are nationals of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria and Sudan or citizens born on or before Nov. 15, 1996, and plan to be in the country until Dec. 16, must report to the INS on or before Dec. 16. Failure to do so will result in arrest, detention, fines and/or removal from the United States, according to documents available on the INS Web page.
Attorney General John Ashcroft determined certain nonimmigrant aliens require close monitoring when national security or law enforcement interest is raised.
The attorney general has the authority to make these determinations under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
INS initiated the first phase of “Special Registration” Sept. 11, requiring selected individuals from different countries to be fingerprinted, photographed and interviewed under oath at U.S. ports-of-entry.
The second phase, initiated this month, requires those designated individuals who already have been admitted to the country from those five countries to report to designated INS offices to begin the same process.
However, INS is not singling out just males from these countries. It is required by 2005 to track all 35 million foreign visitors, students, business travelers and tourists who enter the country, said Jorge Martinez, Department of Justice spokesman.
“No country is exempt from this program,” he said. “It doesn’t matter where they’re from.”
Martinez said individuals from 112 countries already have been registered; however, he would not reveal those countries’ names because that information is “classified.”
However, some University students feel Middle Easterners have been singled out, because INS would not be doing it if were not for the terrorist attacks.
“It’s rational because they want to increase security, but Sept. 11 should not be the excuse to do it,” said Usam Aleem, an ISDS senior.
Others feel the plan will lead to harassment of American citizens of Middle Eastern descent, saying the government cannot know who is an alien and who is not.
“It’s profiling,” said Mohammed Aleem, a biological sciences senior.
INS said the program is not meant to bar entry to the country or limit an individual’s ability to engage in any lawful activity permitted under their entry visa. However, any number of nationals from any country can be required to follow special registration procedures when the attorney general determines it is appropriate.
After the initial interview, designated individuals have to report back to an INS office a year later for an annual review.
Some students disagree with the procedure, believing it grants the government too much power.
“Where’s the limit to how far the government can intervene in your life?” said Michelle Ashton, an anthropology and international studies senior. “Will we all have to eventually carry a card to live here?”
Individuals must inform INS if they change their address, employment or educational institution within 10 days of the change. Before they can leave the country, they must report to an INS officer and then leave from a designated port the same day.
Imad Krad, a computer science junior, does not trust the government’s intentions behind Special Registration because he believes they may use people’s personal information to conduct surveillance, such as tapping their phones.
“There’s a hidden agenda,” Krad said.
The procedure’s rules apply even to individuals with dual citizenship and those who currently are applying to become residents.
However, diplomats and their dependents and representatives from accredited international organizations are exempt from the procedure. Green card holders, those granted asylum or who have applied for asylum on or before Nov. 16 and individuals whose last entry was on or before Sept. 10 and were not inspected and admitted by an INS inspector are exempt.
The current special call-in requirements only apply to aliens who have been inspected by an immigration officer and admitted to the United States.
Despite opposition, some feel the procedure is a necessary evil.
Arabic instructor Hatem Bachar said if internationals want to be in this country, they are going to have to submit to its policies.
“If this is going to help the peace process, so be it,” Bachar said.