Iranian-American citizens returning from Canada are being harassed and detained at the United States Border by immigration officials, the Council on American-Islamic Relations declared in an urgent bulletin published today.
“The Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, CAIR Washington (CAIR-WA) is assisting more than 60 Iranians and Iranian-Americans of all ages who were detained at length and questioned at the Peace Arch Border Crossing in Blaine, Washington,” the bulletin begins.
“Many more were reportedly refused entry to the United States due to a lack of capacity for Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to detain them. Other Iranian-Americans are about to cross the Peace Arch Border as they returned from an Iranian pop concert that was taking place on Saturday in Vancouver, Canada.”
“Those detained reported that their passports were confiscated and that they were questioned about their political views and allegiances,” the bulletin went on to explain. “CBP officials contacted at the Blaine Port of Entry provided no comment or reasons for the detentions.”
But, of course, there is a reason… and it has to do with the Trump regime’s fear of reprisals following Trump’s decision to assassinate Solenami:
Crystal, a 24-year-old American citizen and medical student was allegedly detained and interrogated for more than ten hours with her family at the Peace Arch Border Crossing before being released early this morning.
The vast majority of people being held last night were American citizens,” said Crystal.
“We kept asking why we were being detained and asked questions that had nothing to do with our reason for traveling and were told, ‘I’m sorry, this is just the wrong time for you guys.’”
A source at CBP reported that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a national order to CBP to “report” and detain anyone with Iranian heritage entering the country who is deemed potentially suspicious or “adversarial,” regardless of citizenship status. CBP at the Peace Arch Border Crossing did not confirm or deny this report.
Emphasis is mine.
The official government line is, of course, denial. Who, us? says CBP.
Matt Leas, a spokesman for Customs and Border Protection, disputed the accounts and reports from advocacy groups that the Department of Homeland Security had issued a directive to detain those with Iranian heritage entering the country, despite their citizenship status.
“Social media posts that C.B.P. is detaining Iranian-Americans and refusing their entry into the U.S. because of their country of origin are false,” Mr. Leas said. Officials from the agency added security at ports of entry across the country after the threat from Iran.
CAIR Washington subsequently reported that those who were being detained have been released. But what about those Iranian-Americans who need to cross the border in the next few hours or days? Will they also be subjected to this immoral, unacceptable treatment?
Several members of Congress say they are working to assist those who may have been harassed, delayed, or detained at the border by the CBP.
“I am actively working to get more information on the reports of Americans and lawful permanent residents of Iranian descent being detained by CBP, including at the Canadian‑U.S. border in Washington,” said U.S. Representative Adam Smith. “It is unacceptable for the civil liberties of Americans and immigrants to be violated. We cannot let discrimination dictate our policies and actions.”
“We have heard reports of Iranian American citizens being detained at the Blaine border crossing,” said U.S. Representative Suzan DelBene, who represents border neighborhoods. “My team and I are working with state and federal officials to get to the bottom of these reports. If you or your family have been impacted and require assistance please reach out to my office in Bothell at (425) 485‑0085.”
“Deeply disturbed by reports that Iranian Americans, including U.S. citizens, are being detained at the Canadian border with Washington State,” said U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal. “My office has been working on this all morning. Please contact us with information on directly affected people at WA07PJ_casework@mail.house.gov.”
If you’d like to assist those affected, consider a donation to CAIR Washington.
Sunday, January 5th, 2020
Iranian-American citizens detained at the border on the orders of Donald Trump’s goons
Iranian-American citizens returning from Canada are being harassed and detained at the United States Border by immigration officials, the Council on American-Islamic Relations declared in an urgent bulletin published today.
“The Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, CAIR Washington (CAIR-WA) is assisting more than 60 Iranians and Iranian-Americans of all ages who were detained at length and questioned at the Peace Arch Border Crossing in Blaine, Washington,” the bulletin begins.
“Many more were reportedly refused entry to the United States due to a lack of capacity for Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to detain them. Other Iranian-Americans are about to cross the Peace Arch Border as they returned from an Iranian pop concert that was taking place on Saturday in Vancouver, Canada.”
“Those detained reported that their passports were confiscated and that they were questioned about their political views and allegiances,” the bulletin went on to explain. “CBP officials contacted at the Blaine Port of Entry provided no comment or reasons for the detentions.”
But, of course, there is a reason… and it has to do with the Trump regime’s fear of reprisals following Trump’s decision to assassinate Solenami:
Emphasis is mine.
The official government line is, of course, denial. Who, us? says CBP.
CAIR Washington subsequently reported that those who were being detained have been released. But what about those Iranian-Americans who need to cross the border in the next few hours or days? Will they also be subjected to this immoral, unacceptable treatment?
Several members of Congress say they are working to assist those who may have been harassed, delayed, or detained at the border by the CBP.
“I am actively working to get more information on the reports of Americans and lawful permanent residents of Iranian descent being detained by CBP, including at the Canadian‑U.S. border in Washington,” said U.S. Representative Adam Smith. “It is unacceptable for the civil liberties of Americans and immigrants to be violated. We cannot let discrimination dictate our policies and actions.”
“We have heard reports of Iranian American citizens being detained at the Blaine border crossing,” said U.S. Representative Suzan DelBene, who represents border neighborhoods. “My team and I are working with state and federal officials to get to the bottom of these reports. If you or your family have been impacted and require assistance please reach out to my office in Bothell at (425) 485‑0085.”
“Deeply disturbed by reports that Iranian Americans, including U.S. citizens, are being detained at the Canadian border with Washington State,” said U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal. “My office has been working on this all morning. Please contact us with information on directly affected people at WA07PJ_casework@mail.house.gov.”
If you’d like to assist those affected, consider a donation to CAIR Washington.
# Written by Andrew Villeneuve :: 1:30 PM
Categories: Civil Liberties, National Defense, Policy Topics
Tags: Naturalization
Comments and pings are currently closed.