Date: Wed, 18 Dec 2002 12:56:52 -0800 (PST)
Subject: postcolonial pakistan 


Pakistan is now on INS list


By Anwar Iqbal

WASHINGTON, Dec 17: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been added to the list
of the countries that are considered high risks for potential terrorists.
Nationals from both the countries visiting the United States must register
with the Immigration and Naturalization Services between Jan 13 and Feb
21. They will also be fingerprinted and photographed.
"The requirement becomes effective from the day it is published in the
Federal Register," said Jorge Martinez, a spokesman for the US Department
of Justice. "It has been placed for public viewing today (Tuesday) and
will be published tomorrow," he added.
The addition of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan brings to 20 the number of
countries covered under the registration programme.
"The embassy has not yet been informed officially," said Mohammed Sadiq,
the deputy chief of mission at the Pakistan Embassy. "We are going to send
a very strong demarche to the Justice and State Departments."
Sadiq, however, urged visitors from Pakistan to follow the instructions.
"While in the United States, they have to follow the law of the land."
Muslim rights groups also have criticized the registration programme,
saying say that it creates problems for ordinary people without doing much
to catch the terrorists.
INS says that it netted 179 suspects using the fingerprinting and
registration techniques but none of them were terrorists.
The inclusion of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will upset the two governments
as they consider themselves close US allies in the war on terror. But US
officials have recently criticized both the governments for failing to
check a rising tide of religious extremism.
US officials say that the Saudi government is not doing enough to stop
Saudi charities from helping religious extremists. FBI officials are
currently investigating charges that some members of the royal family may
have inadvertently made payments to one of the Sept. 11, 2002, hijackers.
The victory of an anti-US religious alliance in Pakistan caused an alarm
in the United States, forcing Washington to put Pakistan on the high-risk
countries as well, US officials say.
The latest registration notice affects males from Saudi Arabia and
Pakistan who are age 16 or above and entered the United States on or
before Sept 30, 2002. If they plan to stay in the United States into late
February, they will have until Feb. 21, 2003, to register and provide
documentation to the INS about their visit.
Under the National Security Entry Exit Registration System, launched on
the first anniversary of the Sept 11, 2001, attacks, the US government
must maintain photographs and fingerprints of all male visitors from Iraq,
Iran, Libya, Syria and Sudan. Another 13 countries were added to the list
in October.
More than 3,000 men ages 16 and up from the five countries on the first
list were needed to register by Monday evening. Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan
and Syria are also on the US State Department's list of the countries that
Washington claims sponsor terrorism.
Another group of more than 7,000 males from 13 other nations are required
to register by Jan 10. Out of these 13 countries, 12 - Afghanistan,
Algeria, Bahrain, Eritrea, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Somalia,
Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen - are Muslim. North Korea is the
only non-Muslim country on this list.
Those who fail to register can be deported. The programme does not affect
permanent residents, men with INS "green cards" or naturalized citizens
from those countries. Diplomats are also excluded, as well as those who
are seeking political asylum in the United States or those who have been
granted the political asylum.
"The United States will always welcome visitors from foreign countries,
but after the tragic events of Sept 11, it is clear that we have to
understand better who is entering and exiting our country," said Attorney
General John Ashcroft. "The registration programme assists us in
protecting the safety of the American people and the rights of those
visitors coming to our country."
Here is the text of the official notice published in the Federal Register:

"Individuals who meet all of the following requirements must provide
additional information to INS:
Males born on or before December 16, 1986; and are nationals or citizens
of Pakistan or Saudi Arabia.
Those who were inspected by the INS and were last admitted to the United
States as a non-immigrant alien on or before Sept 30, 2002; and will
remain in the United States at least until February 21, 2003.
The Attorney General announced that some non-immigrant aliens need not
register, including:
Diplomats or others individuals admitted under A or G visas. Lawful
permanent residents and other immigrant aliens, such as refugees. Asylum
applicants who filed before Dec. 16, 2002.
Asylum grantees.

The Attorney General advised that those temporary foreign visitors who are
required to register, should do so at the nearest INS District Office or
Sub-office, between Jan. 13, 2002 and Feb. 21,2003.
Failure to do so constitutes a failure to maintain non-immigrant status
and is a criminal violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act.






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