According to 27B/6, two Pakistani-Americans are being denied reentry to the U.S. unless they agree to undergo FBI interrogation.
They’re apparently brothers of a Lodi, CA gentleman who was convicted of contributing money to a Pakistani charity that allegedly has ties to terrorism, and are already on the no-fly list, presumably due to that kinship.
Some good comments from 27B/6:
This is extraordinary. American citizens are being refused entrance to their country. Not arrested and brought back to stand trial. Just not allowed to return home until they agree to waive their constitutional rights.[.]
This situation also brings into clearer focus how the no-fly list is exceptionally odd in American law. It’s a list of people mostly considered too dangerous to fly, but not dangerous enough to arrest. It’s a form of administrative punishment — something that has never been legal in this country, and its not clear at all how one can contest being put on that list. Of course, with the Ismail’s being outside the country, its not clear if any court in the United States would claim to have jurisdiction.
I’m all for security officials acting with an abundance of caution in times like this. However, fears of terrorism cannot be allowed to unnecessarily trump civil liberties. Then again, the borders have never been that great a place to seek to exercise one’s rights..
1 response so far ↓
1 Agent KGB // 30 Aug 2006 at 7:38 pm
It’s just another instance of taking away freedom in the name of saving it. I heard that in one city air marshals have a quota, they have to report at least one person a month, which involves putting that person on a list. It wasn’t the no-fly list but it was something similar. Also, there’s literally no way to get off the list, they can only put you on a different part of it if they decide you’re not a threat after all. You would stay on that list forever for absolutely no reason.