CAIR-WA, as part of the "Northern Border Coalition" of immigrant rights groups around the country, has called on Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to stop engaging in unconstitutional practices along the Northern Border between the US and Canada.
The Coalition has sent a letter to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, proposing several measures of reform for the CBP. This is in response to the numerous complaints against the CBP’s Border Patrol division of religious profiling and unlawful detention, amongst other questionable activities, that have been documented by CAIR-WA and other members of the Coalition over the past few years.
OneAmerica, CAIR-WA and 50 more demand Changes in Border Patrol
For the first time ever, Northern border states have united to urge the Department of Homeland Security to reform the Border Patrol division of Customs and Border Protection (CBP). In the years since 9/11, northern border residents have endured increasing numbers of civil and human rights violations, racial and religious profiling, harassment, abusive interrogation, searches without probable cause, road checkpoints and sweeps of public transit.
In response, OneAmerica and Council on American-Islamic Relations of Washington State have joined over 50 advocacy groups from across the country to form the Northern Borders Coalition and sign on to a major position statement. The letter calls on Secretary Janet Napolitano to take back control of her rogue department and on Attorney General Holder to close loopholes in the Racial Profiling Guidance that allow racial and religious profiling in border communities.
"The power of the letter and of forming the Northern Border Coalition is that by joining together we can connect the dots to show a disturbing picture of abuse by CBP," said Ada Williams Prince, Policy Director of OneAmerica. "Sec. Napolitano must understand the urgency in creating transparency and accountability of the Border Patrol. The Department of Justice must step up too. They can make immediate changes that will curtail racial and religious profiling."
The letter will be delivered to Sec. Napolitano and Attorney General Holder today (Feb. 7, 2012), in coordination with several other events during the month of February that call attention to the fundamental problems with the way DHS patrols our nation’s northern borders.
Events
- Feb 1, 2012 - OneAmerica hosted a People’s Hearing in Lynden, WA where over 60 people came together to share stories of fear and incidents with CBP and to sign on to a statement of moral and human values that should govern the northern border region. Pictured here: community members testifying.
- February 23, 2012 - OneAmerica and CAIR-WA will travel to Detroit for the first annual Northern Border Conference.
- February 28, 2012 - OneAmerica and the Northern Border Coalition will host “We Are the Border," a National Day of Action. We will be joined by organizations across the country to re-map the border and lift up stories across the northern border region of abuses by CBP.
In 2011, Border patrol arrived to a small girl's birthday party when a parent called to report that a child had fallen and began questioning Latino guests.
Another incident involved Border Patrol arriving to "interpret" after a family was pulled over for a noisy muffler. The mother, realizing that her family was in danger, began having a panic attack and paramedics were called to assist her. While the medics took care of her, her husband and oldest son were arrested by immigration officials. The son arrived on the scene to pick the family up and was not involved in the incident. However, he was told he could go with immigration officials or his mother could. Both the father and son were deported.
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Statement from CAIR-WA
It is common for American Muslims to be stopped, detained, questioned, and searched every time they travel internationally, often for hours at a time. In one case, a U.S. citizen and a successful business owner in Seattle, Wash., estimates that he has been stopped more than 40 times and says it is "guaranteed" he will be stopped when traveling back from Canada.
On one occasion, he was stopped by 20 CBP agents with their guns drawn, ordered to exit his vehicle, and tackled by an agent, dislocating his shoulder. Despite repeated attempts to address their issues through the recommended grievance process, many American Muslims find themselves afraid to travel internationally.
"The routine profiling of the American Muslim community by CBP agents at the border is not only a misuse of time and funds, it is a violation of the rights granted to Americans by our Constitution," said Jennifer Gist, Civil Rights Coordinator at the Council on American-Islamic Relations of Washington State (CAIR-WA). "The biggest fear facing a law abiding American when they travel should not be their own government."
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Media
For more information or to arrange interviews, contact Charlie McAteer, OneAmerica Communications Director, 206-452-8402, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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About OneAmerica and CAIR-WA
OneAmerica, formerly Hate Free Zone, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that advances the fundamental principles of democracy and justice by building power within immigrant communities.
CAIR-Washington State is a chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
