In Defense of the Constitution
Anti-CAIR Press Release 002/03
April 15, 2003
Anti-CAIR Supports Detention of Asylum Seekers from
Terrorism Supporting Countries
Anti-CAIR applauds the implementation of
new immigration controls recently unveiled by Mr. Tom Ridge, the Secretary
of Homeland Security. The part of Liberty Shield relating to asylum
seekers states:
"Asylum applicants from nations where al-Qaeda,
al-Qaeda sympathizers, and other terrorist groups are known to have operated
will be detained for the duration of their processing period. This reasonable
and prudent temporary action allows authorities to maintain contact
with asylum seekers while we determine the validity of their claim. DHS and
the Department of State will coordinate exceptions to this policy."
Anti-CAIR notes that this prudent
policy allows for the detention of asylum seekers from terrorist-sponsoring
nations while making no presumptions regarding their guilt or innocence.
In addition, this new program will allow for exceptions as the need arises.
Upon completion of the background check and verification of the asylum claim
the asylum seeker will be adjudicated as appropriate and either released
or returned to their country of origin.
The new policy has been attacked by the Council
on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Fundamentalist Islamic advocacy group
founded in 1994 to advance the cause of radical Islam in the United
States. According to CAIR Executive Director Mr. Nihad Awad,
"The policy is eerily similar to Australia's "Pacific Solution" program,
which relegated seaborne asylum seekers to impoverished Pacific islands while
their claims were processed." Anti-CAIR makes the
distinction that the United States does not relegate asylum seekers to places
outside the United States nor does the United States violate the rights of
asylum seekers. Anti-CAIR questions the motivation
of Mr. Awad in making this patently false assertion.
Andrew Whitehead
ajwhitehead@anti-cair-net.org
Anti-CAIR (ACAIR)