PAKPAC Expresses Concern
at New York Times Article
Maryland:
The Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee (PAKPAC) has
expressed concern about a “recent article in New York
Times (May 2nd 2007)” in which a “story suggested
that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Secretary
Chertoff are pressing to change the visa waiver program with
the British government to require British passport holders
of Pakistani origin to be required to have a visa to enter
the US.
In a press release, PAKPAC said: “This suggestion is
of grave concern to PAKPAC. If this was true it would be a
clear case of racial, ethnic and religious profiling, which
is against the United States laws, but also against the human
rights principles. Because of PAKPACs concern and the role
in educating and working with the Pakistani-American community
the Depart of Homeland Security has already reached out to
us and communicated with PAKPAC about the erroneous reporting
by NY times on this issue. In his communication with PAKPAC,
Mr. Daniel Sutherland the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil
Liberties at the US Department of Homeland Security communicated
the following:
“‘The article claims that Secretary Chertoff is
seeking for ways to prevent British citizens of Pakistani
national origin from traveling to the United States. I wanted
to let you know as soon as I could that the article is completely
inaccurate on this point. The below article contains (Reuters
article) the official DHS position on this matter. As you
know, the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties provides
guidance and training to DHS personnel and leaders on the
Department's policy on racial and ethnic profiling. We will
work to ensure the article does not lead to misconceptions,
and appreciate your thoughts as well’.
“The excerpts from the article mentioned by Mr. Sutherland
are as follows:
“‘A spokesman for the US Department of Homeland
Security also said there were "inaccuracies" in
the story. "We flatly reject the notion of profiling
based upon ethnicity, religion, sex, age, what have you. Country
of origin as well," the spokesman told BBC radio. "We
are pleased with the visa waiver program but we have been
on record with our desire to strengthen the visa waiver program."
“ ‘A spokeswoman for Britain's Home Office (interior
ministry) denied that Chertoff and Reid had discussed any
particular group of people at their meeting.
"’The suggestion that groups of British citizens
of a particular background should be singled out was not made
at the meeting and neither would it have been acceptable,"
she said.
“PAKPAC will remain engaged with the Department
of Homeland Security on this very challenging situation. There
has been serious unease amid a wave of terrorism trials in
Britain in which Britons of Pakistani origin have either been
accused of or found guilty of planning or carrying out attacks.
”PAKPAC strongly feel that any form of racial, ethnic,
religious profiling will not only be counterproductive, but
alienate a well integrated large segment of the American population
which continues to work towards the growth and stability of
United States along with all other immigrant and non immigrant
communities.”
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