MORE than 100,000 Muslims and Middle Eastern nationals
living legally in the United States are to be
fingerprinted and forced to register their whereabouts
with the Government.

The move is expected to be popular among ordinary
Americans growing ever more fearful of another
terrorist outrage, but it was condemned by civil
liberties organisations as the most draconian step by
the Bush Administration since the September 11 suicide
attacks on Washington and New York.

Justice Department documents talk of targeting
“individuals from countries who pose the highest
risk”, including most visa-holders from Saudi Arabia,
Pakistan and other Muslim nations.

More than 100,000 foreigners, including students,
workers, researchers and tourists do not hold Green
Card work permits and would have to comply with the
plan. It is feared that the programme will be
difficult to enforce, however, as many Middle Eastern
visitors have become scared by what is seen by some as
a growing witch-hunt for Muslims.

David Cole, an immigration expert from the Georgetown
Law Centre in Washington, believes that the plan will
not help the fight against terrorism. “This is the
most aggressive instance of ethnic profiling the
Federal Government has engaged in since September 11,”
he said. “Treating everyone from an Arab country as a
suspect will only hinder investigations.”

He added that officials risked driving a wedge between
themselves and Arab-Americans. “We should be building
bridges with these people, asking them to help, not
labelling them all potential terrorists.”

Dire international consequences are also feared as a
result of the measures, which are expected to be
enforced within weeks. “How are we to work with Arab
countries against terrorism if we at the same time
tell them that any of their citizens who come to
America will be treated as suspects?” Mr Cole asked.

President Mubarak of Egypt arrives in Washington to
meet President Bush today. He will not be profiled,
Justice Department officials said.

He, with his entourage and other visiting politicians,
will be protected by diplomatic immunity.

After September 11, 5,000 Muslims were called in for
questioning by officials searching for clues about the
attacks. Fewer than two dozen have been detained or
deported, all on charges of visa violation.

In a separate case, Eyud al-Rababah, a Jordanian
engaged to be married to a US citizen, was locked in
solitary confinement and allegedly tortured after he
volunteered information about two of the hijackers,
whom he had met at his local mosque. He has since been
ordered to leave the United States after he admitted
fraudulently completing a a driving licence form.

The Justice Department is expected to announce that
new arrivals from the designated countries will be
fingerprinted at airports or seaports and required to
register with the Immigration and Naturalisation
Service after 30 days in the country. Those who do not
comply could be fined, refused re-entry to the United
States or deported.

The authority for the new requirements is in a
long dormant provision in the Immigration and
Nationality Act of 1952.

www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-318438,00.html