Court backs U.S. immigration screening of Arab, Muslim men

It was constitutional for the United States to require visitors from two dozen Arab and Muslim countries and North Korea to register with immigration authorities, a federal appeals court ruled today.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled that U.S. authorities could deport three of four men who claimed their rights were violated. The case of the fourth was returned to the Board of Immigration Appeals for review.

After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, males from 24 Arab and predominantly Muslim countries and North Korea had to register with immigration officials. That requirement has since been discontinued, although a database remains.

The four men — Mohamed Rajah, Said Najih, Saade Benjelloun, Samer Emile El Zahr — were ordered deported for not having the proper immigration status.

Read the court's opinion (pdf). Here's the ruling (pdf) for Mohamed Rajah.

Posted by Michael Winter at 04:51 PM/ET, September 24, 2008 in Terrorism | Permalink
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