U.S. residents sue over immigration denials said to target Muslims

[Janelle2002 3,865]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Five long-time U.S. residents who are Muslim or from Muslim-majority countries sued the federal government on Thursday, saying the Department of Homeland Security was unfairly denying or delaying requests for citizenship and permanent residency on vague security grounds.

The plaintiffs, all immigrants who are either practicing Muslims or are from predominantly Muslim nations, complain their immigration or naturalization petitions were illegally thwarted after they were flagged for potential national security concerns under a federal program.

They complained that the criteria for flagging applications under the Controlled Application Review and Resolution Program (CARRP) were secretive and broader than authorized by the U.S. Congress, essentially creating an immigration blacklist.

“Our clients are long-time, law-abiding residents of the United States who, for years, the government has walled off from becoming citizens and lawful residents of this country without legal authority to do so,” said Jennie Pasquarella, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, which filed the suit in federal court in Los Angeles.

“Under this unfair and unconstitutional program, the government has blacklisted their applications without telling them why and barred them from upgrading their immigration status in violation of the immigration laws,” she said in a statement.

The ACLU said the five plaintiffs were among thousands of U.S. residents of Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim or South Asian backgrounds who are similarly being blocked from citizenship, asylum, green cards and visas, without explanation.

The plaintiffs include Ahmad and Reem Muhanna, Palestinian Muslims and U.S. legal permanent residents whose 2007 citizenship application was denied in 2012 and is under appeal. Fellow plaintiff Ahmed Hassan, a Muslim refugee from Somalia, has been seeking legal permanent residency since 2006.

Plaintiff Neda Behmanesh, an Iranian married to a U.S. citizen, had her naturalization application denied even after passing a citizenship exam, while fellow Iranian Abrahim Mosavi first applied for citizenship in 2000 without success.

The ACLU says the plaintiffs do not know precisely why they have been scrutinized, and the lawsuit complains that immigrants denied under CARRP are not given a meaningful way to respond, in violation of due process guarantees enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.

CARRP includes anyone named on the U.S. Terrorist Watchlist, as well as others associated with those names, even without reliable information about that person's activities, the ACLU says.

A USCIS spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit, but said the CARRP system aims to give immigration officers the flexibility to manage a variety of cases.

The lawsuit comes a month after a federal judge ruled that the government's no-fly list banning people accused of links to terrorism from commercial flights was unconstitutional because it left them no way to contest that decision.

“Very much like the no-fly list, people are not told that they're subject to CARRP, that they've been labeled a national security concern, and that they're held up for that process,” Pasquarella said. “They must be told why, and given an opportunity to respond.”

(Editing by Cynthia Johnston and Eric Walsh

http://news.yahoo.com/u-residents-sue-over-immigration-denials-said-target-015915516.html

[lostinblue 1,989]

So they have been told that because if Islam they are being denied... or just pure speculation on their part. Because of so many undocumented democrats entering from the south the process has slowed down a bit. Background checks and the like.

[decocker 7,198]

CARRP includes anyone named on the U.S. Terrorist Watchlist, as well as others associated with those names, even without reliable information about that person's activities, the ACLU says.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/25/terrorist-watch-list_n_5617599.html

Earlier this week, The Intercept published a 166-page document outlining the government's guidelines for placing people on an expansive network of terror watch lists, including the no-fly list. In their report, Jeremy Scahill and Ryan Devereaux highlighted the extremely vague and loosely defined criteria developed by 19 federal agencies, supposedly to fight terrorism.

Using these criteria, government officials have secretly characterized an unknown number of individuals as threats or potential threats to national security. In 2013 alone, 468,749 watch-list nominations were submitted to the National Counterterrorism Center. It rejected only 1 percent of the recommendations.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Even though not on any watch list (that I am aware of), the visa process is very frustrating and not very forthcoming with info. Has nothing to do with country of origin. Getting a human on the phone to discuss a case is extremely difficult. Case updates on USCIC.gov are a joke. It's 90% a waiting game, 30% a test of patience, and 10% a burden of financial proof. 130% worth of ####### that we must all endure, regardless of race, religion, or country.

[decocker 7,198]

Has nothing to do with country of origin.

the amount of wait and frustration endured can certainly be affected by country of origin.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

the amount of wait and frustration endured can certainly be affected by country of origin.

Sure, some countries have greater obstacles to overcome. But for a particular group of religious folks to cry discrimination? I don't see that as being justified. The entire process as a whole is painful and could probably be better, but that's for EVERYONE, IMHO.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Sure, some countries have greater obstacles to overcome. But for a particular group of religious folks to cry discrimination? I don't see that as being justified. The entire process as a whole is painful and could probably be better, but that's for EVERYONE, IMHO.

Yes it is, but we do know some people endure longer waits from certain countries than others..... cough, cough, Pakistan, cough cough just saying.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Yes it is, but we do know some people endure longer waits from certain countries than others..... cough, cough, Pakistan, cough cough just saying.

But whose fault is that?

Do you know how long it takes for a USC to get a visa to get into Pakistan?

[decocker 7,198]

But whose fault is that?

certainly not an entire country of individuals. but maybe an overzealous method of comprising terrorist lists.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

the amount of wait and frustration endured can certainly be affected by country of origin.

I will have to take your word on that. On my K-1, AOS, and ROC all 3 breezed thru in under avg time.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

certainly not an entire country of individuals. but maybe an overzealous method of comprising terrorist lists.

The allegation is not against a single country so much as it is for one religion. Which seems a tad silly to me.

Let's see if Marvin had any undue hardships.

For the record I have seen work visas going into Pakistan take from 4 months to 2 years. And that's for folks with security clearances.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

The allegation is not against a single country so much as it is for one religion. Which seems a tad silly to me.

Let's see if Marvin had any undue hardships.

For the record I have seen work visas going into Pakistan take from 4 months to 2 years. And that's for folks with security clearances.

Maybe you should go to the AP section of VJ and tell the people from MENA countries over there you feel like they do not have unreasonable delays and see what they will have to tell you.

As a matter of fact, ask them how long have they been in AP. That will put some fire under your but.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Maybe you should go to the AP section of VJ and tell the people from MENA countries over there you feel like they do not have unreasonable delays and see what they will have to tell you.

As a matter of fact, ask them how long have they been in AP. That will put some fire under your but.

Butt. But who am I to butt into your buts?

Not sure what MENA countries are. Just recently wrapped my brain around CABA chicks, and that made me very happy that I haven't had cable for years.

My 17 month wait was enough, thanks though. So much for being the privileged white guy...

[Karee 4,190]

But whose fault is that?

Do you know how long it takes for a USC to get a visa to get into Pakistan?

It took me about a day and a half each time. I got 3 of them on separate occasions at the Pakistani embassy in Bangkok, although the last one was only 15 days single entry.

Butt. But who am I to butt into your buts?

Not sure what MENA countries are. Just recently wrapped my brain around CABA chicks, and that made me very happy that I haven't had cable for years.

My 17 month wait was enough, thanks though. So much for being the privileged white guy...

MENA = Middle East/North Africa

[UncleBeer 244]

Ordinarily there'd be a pretty high burden of proof to prove real discrimination in this sort of case, but considering the preznit's regime's overly PC stance on everything, they'll probably just admit to 'wanton discrimination against an oppressed minority' and pay a huge sum in reparations.