New Report Says Racial Profiling Still 'Widespread and Pervasive' in U.S.
Written by William Fisher
Tuesday, 07 July 2009 07:41


U.S. authorities detain thousands of people each year solely on the basis of religion, race or nationality, the American Civil Liberties Union charges in a new report to the United Nations.

The report says racial profiling is often applied to immigrants from South Asia and to North Africans suspected of being Islamic militants following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Submitted to the U.N. Committee to End Racial Discrimination, the report said profiling could involve harassment, detention, arrest or investigation.

Many Latin American immigrants are also targeted for immigration violations while others, including African Americans, are profiled as suspected drug offenders, the report said.

Chandra Bhatnagar, staff attorney with the ACLU's human rights program, told us, “Racial profiling was widespread and pervasive during the George W. Bush Administration and it continues to be the reality today. The Obama Administration must finally put an end to this undemocratic and counterproductive practice by supporting the legislation currently making its way through Congress.â€