USA: illegal immigrants can be 'detained indefinitely'

Friday April 25, 2003 17:16

by america, once free

US Atty Gen Ashcroft has set out to start the process of more camps for illegal immigrants to be 'detained indefinitely' - is it fascism yet? (i don't throw this word around lightly)

More Illegal Immigrants Can Be Held
Ashcroft's Ruling Cites National Security Issues

By George Lardner Jr.
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 25, 2003; Page A06

Broad categories of foreigners who arrive in this country illegally can be detained indefinitely without consideration of their individual circumstances if immigration officials say their release would endanger national security, according to a ruling by Attorney General John D. Ashcroft.

Ashcroft released the far-reaching decision yesterday in denying bond to an 18-year-old Haitian, David Joseph, who scrambled ashore at Key Biscayne, Fla., on Oct. 29 with more than 200 other refugees. Immigration judges had approved the release of about 100 of them.

The order means that groups of asylum seekers and other aliens -- in this instance Haitians -- can be locked up without hearings and without recourse to release on bond. Ashcroft rejected claims that denying them bail on broad national security grounds would violate their due process rights. He said it was not clear they had any such rights.

Until now, the government has jailed individuals or groups seeking asylum for long periods, but has not asserted the right to indefinitely detain whole classes of illegal immigrants as security risks.

oh, it just gets worse.....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A34890-2003Apr24?language=printer