------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Jan. 9, 2003 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
LOS ANGELS: THOUSANDS RALLY TO PROTEST INS ROUNDUP By Scott Scheffer Los Angeles Immigration and Naturalization Service arrests of hundreds of Iranian men in Los Angeles ignited a prompt and furious demonstration of over 6,000 people from the nation's largest Iranian community on Dec. 18 and a lawsuit by a coalition of immigrant rights and civil rights organizations. It also spurred a campaign to build an immigrant rights contingent in an upcoming Jan. 11 anti-war march and rally in the city. The explosion of anger comes from the feeling of having fallen for a cruel trap set by the U.S. government. The men were arrested when they voluntarily abided by a directive to report to the INS to be fingerprinted, photographed and interviewed by Dec. 16. Many community organizations had encouraged immigrants to cooperate, and assured people that it was the right thing to do. Gisroo Mohajeri, who is seven months pregnant, had urged her 16-year-old Iranian-born son to register. The day after the registration deadline, she sat on the steps of the downtown federal building and sobbed, "Why? Just because I followed the law. I made a mistake. I shouldn't do that." Her son may be deported. The "special registration," as it is officially known, is part of new federal security guidelines instituted during the anti-immigrant hysteria whipped up by the Bush administration immediately after Sept. 11, 2001. Like Mohajeri's son, many of those arrested are now facing deportation proceedings. It is believed that an additional 500 have been arrested since November, when the directive was first made public. The demonstration--born out of an announcement by an Iranian AM radio station--was so large and so sudden that it seemed to take the INS and the media by surprise. It finally forced the story about the arrests into the establishment media here, but there has been little national coverage. The INS said very little in response to media questions, finally claiming that only 227 were arrested and that they were treated humanely. But, according to Kayhan Shakib, a spokesperson for the Iranian-American Lawyers Association, "We don't know how many. We have estimated anywhere between 1,000 to 2,500 detained in southern California." While being held, the men reported being subjected to strip searches, standing-room-only holding centers, freezing conditions, deprivation of blankets, shoes and socks, deprivation of vital medicines, and instances of brutality. Most had valid work permits and paid taxes at their jobs. Many had applied for permanent residence, and had been notified verbally that approval was imminent. Most infractions were as minor as failing to report a change of address. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, by the time the last deadline passes on Feb. 13, it's possible that the arrests will total 10,000 or more. Citizens or nationals of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan and Syria were targeted during this roundup, and 13 more nationalities will be subjected to the same repressive measures over the next seven weeks. All fall into three categories: Middle Eastern countries, countries with large Muslim populations, or countries that have stood up for their sovereignty against U.S. domination, such as North Korea. As part of its efforts to neutralize the rapidly growing anti-war movement in the United States, the Bush administration's two-pronged strategy aims to terrorize the immigrant population and prevent them from taking part while at the same time demonizing Muslims and people from the Middle East. Said Hamid Kahn of the South Asian Network, "To justify a war overseas, they have to create an enemy. The U.S. government has a long tradition of attacking immigrants because they lack political muscle. Of course, immigrants are fearful of the consequences, but that doesn't mean they won't fight back. "We've been in touch with other organizations of immigrants and we're getting a great response from people in the Korean, Latino and Arab communities in LA about the immigrant rights contingent on January 11. The best way to fight back is to let them know we're not alone." - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe wwnews- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Support the voice of resistance http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
