Thread: Supporters Protest arrest Of Pakistani Illegals/Terrorists

NY1 News
Supporters Protest Imprisonment Of Pakistani Immigrants
January 17, 2007

A Pakistani family in New Jersey is fighting for their freedom after their loved one was convicted for plotting to blow up the Herald Square subway station. NY1's Solana Pyne was at the New Jersey detention center where supporters of the family spoke out in protest.

A small group marched outside the Elizabeth Detention Center in New Jersey, on Tuesday, protesting the arrest of the family of Shahawar Matin Siraj. Siraj was sentenced to 30 years in prison last week, convicted of plotting to blow up the Herald Square subway station.

Some 12 hours after the sentencing, his mother, father and 19-year-old sister were picked up at their Queens home by immigration and customs enforcement officers.

"Upwards of 10 ICE agents showed up and separated them into separate rooms, treated them like criminals, raided and went through all of their belongings, and arrested the three of them," said activist Kavitha Pawria.

Immigration officials have confirmed that the three were arrested but have said they cannot discuss details of the case. The family's attorney says the timing was surprising, because authorities had known for years that the family had overstayed their visa.

"The government had been aware of their immigration situation since 2002, when the husband appeared for special registration," said attorney Mona Shah.

Shah says that Siraj's father, Siraj Abdul Rehman, has applied for asylum for his family, an application now before a federal appeals court.

Activists said the arrest was an attempt to punish the family for speaking out against their son's arrest. They have said Siraj was entrapped by a police informant, who prodded him into making threats that he had no intention of carrying out.

"This is a way to keep this family silenced and intimidate them," said Pawria.

On Tuesday, an immigration judge ruled that Siraj's mother, Shahina Parveen, and his sister, Sanya Siraj, could wait for their the results of their appeal in freedom, if their family posts a total of $35,000 in bonds– $15,000 for Sanya and $20,000 for Shahina. An amount her brother-in law said would be hard to raise.

"I am looking at my resources. This is $35,000; it's large," said Saleem Noorali.

And their attorney says Siraj Abdul Rehman won't have a bond hearing. She says it's up to homeland security to determine whether or not to release him while his appeal is pending.

- Solana Pyne

http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.js ... aid=65970#

Originally Posted by NoIllegalsAllowed

NY1 News
Supporters Protest Imprisonment Of Pakistani Immigrants
January 17, 2007



Immigration officials have confirmed that the three were arrested but have said they cannot discuss details of the case. The family's attorney says the timing was surprising, because authorities had known for years that the family had overstayed their visa.

"The government had been aware of their immigration situation since 2002, when the husband appeared for special registration," said attorney Mona Shah.



http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.js ... aid=65970#

so when you over stay your visa how long does the government have to pick you up and throw you out, before you just become a citizen?

The family's attorney says the timing was surprising, because authorities had known for years that the family had overstayed their visa.

As ICE said about Elvira, we'll get you at a time and place of our choosing. Okay, I know that isn't exactly what they said, but it was something similar.