Bush: Immigrants May Be Held Indefinitely

[helderheid]

US: Immigrants May Be Held Indefinitely


Nov 13, 9:53 PM (ET)

By MATT APUZZO

WASHINGTON (AP) - Immigrants arrested in the United States may be held indefinitely on suspicion of terrorism and may not challenge their imprisonment in civilian courts, the Bush administration said Monday, opening a new legal front in the fight over the rights of detainees.

In court documents filed with the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., the Justice Department said a new anti-terrorism law being used to hold detainees in Guantanamo Bay also applies to foreigners captured and held in the United States.

Ali Saleh Kahlah Al-Marri, a citizen of Qatar, was arrested in 2001 while studying in the United States. He has been labeled an "enemy combatant," a designation that, under a law signed last month, strips foreigners of the right to challenge their detention in federal courts.

That law is being used to argue the Guantanamo Bay cases, but Al-Marri represents the first detainee inside the United States to come under the new law. Aliens normally have the right to contest their imprisonment, such as when they are arrested on immigration violations or for other crimes.

"It's pretty stunning that any alien living in the United States can be denied this right," said Jonathan Hafetz, an attorney for Al-Marri. "It means any non-citizen, and there are millions of them, can be whisked off at night and be put in detention."

MUCH MORE >>>>>
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20061114/D8LCIVL80.html

[Jawja]

1. In other words,

the DictatorTot desires to deny people their HUMAN rights. This is where I expect the new Dem Congress to step in and put a stop to this madness.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. That position would justify the arbitrary round-up of any person

who is not a native-born or naturalized citizen of this country and allow them to be held indefinitely without a device to allow for their eventual release if possible. This is the first wave of American fascism.

[helderheid]

3. this is why it is SO important that we clean up elections before 2008 and while in

power now, we need to stop this mad man.

[tuvor]

4. That'll put a dent in tourism.

[treestar]

6. And our own, since other countries may retaliate

So undiplomatic. And they've had this guy since 2001, that's five years, don't they have any probable cause evidence yet?

[poofer]

5. but..but..

they might be among all the terrorists we have prisoned!:sarcasm: