(no subject)

[novapsyche]

2 Lodi residents refused entry back into U.S.

The federal government has barred two relatives of a Lodi man convicted of supporting terrorists from returning to the country after a lengthy stay in Pakistan, placing the U.S. citizens in an extraordinary legal limbo.

Muhammad Ismail, a 45-year-old naturalized citizen born in Pakistan, and his 18-year-old son, Jaber Ismail, who was born in the United States, have not been charged with a crime. However, they are the uncle and cousin of Hamid Hayat, a 23-year-old Lodi cherry packer who was convicted in April of supporting terrorists by attending a Pakistani training camp.

Federal authorities said Friday that the men, both Lodi residents, would not be allowed back into the country unless they agreed to FBI interrogations in Pakistan.

[...] Neither Muhammad nor Jaber Ismail holds dual Pakistani citizenship, [their attorney Julia Harumi] Mass said.

"We haven't heard about this happening -- U.S. citizens being refused the right to return from abroad without any charges or any basis," said Mass, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union.

McGregor Scott, the U.S. attorney for California's eastern district, confirmed Friday that the men were on the no-fly list and were being kept out of the country until they agreed to talk to federal authorities.

"They've been given the opportunity to meet with the FBI over there and answer a few questions, and they've declined to do that," Scott said.

[...] "They want to come home and have an absolute right to come home," said Mass, who has filed a complaint with the Department of Homeland Security and a petition with the Transportation Security Administration.

"They can't be compelled to waive their constitutional rights under threat of banishment," Mass said. "The government is conditioning the return to their home on cooperation with law enforcement."

Comments

[pgdudda.livejournal.com]

*is boiling over mad*

They are, in effect, saying that my Green Card is worthless as a guarantee of re-admittance to the United States. Not only would becoming a US Citizen not guarantee it, but even being a citizen-by-birth won't guarantee that you'll be able to re-enter. What is this, Stalinist Russia, where they regularly strip personae non gratia of citizenship in direct violation of UN conventions?

This is NOT the USA I grew up to know and love, where the rule of law held sway, and I want that USA back THIS FUCKING INSTANT.

[moiety-tx.livejournal.com]

Oh Lord, stuck not-in-Lodi again.

[dionysus1999.livejournal.com]

Who's next? It could be anyone. Everyone becomes the bad guy when paranoia reigns.