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09/30/2004 Entry: "Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Plans Immigration Sweeps"
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) has confirmed through
federal government sources that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
has initiated, or soon will initiate, specific enforcement actions in major
metropolitan areas prior to the November 2nd Presidential election.
ADC Press Release/Action Alert:
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Plans Immigration Sweeps The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) has confirmed through
federal government sources that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
has initiated, or soon will initiate, specific enforcement actions in major
metropolitan areas prior to the November 2nd Presidential election. This new
ICE initiative is supposedly separate from the recent ADC alert about the
voluntary interviews being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI.) However, ADC has confirmed that ICE's enforcement action is in fact,
being carried out in conjunction with the FBI's latest initiative. The ICE initiative consists of a stepped up effort to arrest a number of
non-citizens whose immigration paperwork is "out of status." While ADC
encourages and supports all measures to enhance our nation's security, ADC
is troubled by the idea that immigration sweeps are being portrayed as
successes in the war on terror. To date it is unclear whether the ICE
initiative will be selectively carried out against Arabs and Muslims. ADC
reiterates its strong objection to any selective enforcement initiative that
is based solely on race, national origin, or religion. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE have failed
to reach out to community leaders to communicate this matter or to address
our concerns. This initiative damages efforts made at cooperating with the
Arab-American community. ADC has actively worked to build bridges with
multiple levels of law enforcement and the community through its successful
national Law Enforcement Outreach Program (LEOP) and the ADC Michigan
office's outreach program BRIDGES. Furthermore, ADC, which is nonpartisan, hopes this ICE initiative will not
be perceived by the community as intimidation to US citizens who may be
relatives of those subjected to the enforcement action and may inhibit these
citizens from voting, especially those newly registered to vote. ADC suggests you contact the White House and the Department of Homeland
Security to relay your concern and opposition to this new ICE initiative. You may write to them online, via ADC website:
http://capwiz.com/adc/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=6480531
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