Special Registration

[Ivo Skoric]

So, when are the yellow stars going to be issued? Or, rather, the 
green crescents. I mean, that would be the next logical step after 
the "special registration" - to visually identify non-immigrant aliens 
with "issues" of concern to the 'national security'. 
ivo

From:
Immigration News Briefs
Vol. 5, No. 50 - December 13, 2002
(Coalition For Human Rights of Immigrants; to subscribe write to 
nicajg at panix.com)

In a notice dated Dec. 12 and scheduled to be published on Dec.
16, the INS announced that male visitors age 16 or older from
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Armenia who entered the US on or
before Sept. 30, 2002, must appear for "special registration"
under the National Security Entry Exit Registration System
(NSEERS), between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21, 2003. The notice is 
signed by Attorney General John Ashcroft. [INS Notice 12/12/02]

Nationals of 18 other countries were already required to register
[see INB 11/8/02, 11/29/02]. A Sept. 5 memo from Johnny 
Williams, INS Executive Associate Commissioner for Field 
Operations, spells out additional "pre-existing criteria, as 
determined by the Attorney General," which can trigger registration 
on entry into the US for "any nonimmigrant alien, regardless of 
nationality." 
Criteria include "unexplained trips to Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan,
Syria, North Korea, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Yemen,
Egypt, Somalia, Pakistan, Indonesia, or Malaysia, or the alien's
explanation of such trips lacks credibility." [Memo 9/5/02,
published in Interpreter Releases 9/30/02]

Immigration lawyers report that several clients in Los Angeles,
Minnesota and Ohio with pending adjustment of status cases,
expired visas or traffic violations were detained by INS when
they went to register. [San Jose Mercury News 12/13/02; Sun-
Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale) 12/10/02] The INS says individuals who
are out of status with pending petitions will be detained when
they appear for registration, and their information will be
forwarded to "investigations" for a determination. If
"investigations" finds no "issues," the person is to be released
with no further action by INS. [Message from Kareem Shora of
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee 12/5/02]