Arab-sounding immig? Wait 1,001 nites

[Razor 0]

Arab-sounding immig? Wait 1,001 nites

BY LESLIE CASIMIR

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

The World Trade Center site was still a raw mound of twisted steel and debris when Muhammad Jawwad applied for naturalization in November 2001.

Less than a year later, he was called for both his test and interview - the final step before he was to be sworn in shortly afterward as a U.S. citizen.

"I remember the woman asking me, 'Why is your name Muhammad?'" said Jawwad, 46, a health insurance enrollment caseworker at Coney Island Hospital who came from Pakistan 11 years ago. "I told her that's what my parents put down on my birth certificate."

Jawwad, whose wife and kids already have become citizens, has waited 3-1/2 years for his swearing in even though immigration officials are required to complete the process within 120 days of the interview. They say the holdup is his FBI clearance.

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/421711p-355866c.html

[sparkofcreation 0]

I have a friend whose husband (from Pakistan) has gone for the swearing-in three times, and each time they've told him that something is missing from his file: first his birth certificate, then his last three tax returns (and no, you're not actually required to include your tax returns in your application!), then a copy of his passport. So he's been waiting for years to be sworn in. His interview was in the summer of 2004.

[LaL 418]

Immigrant advocates say hundreds - if not thousands - of men with Arabic-sounding or Muslim names are experiencing endless delays in what should be the pro forma final step of the citizenship application process.

its not just the last step prior to naturalization that have a hold-up for Arabs, its the whole damn process! Although geez - by the time you actually get to the naturalization step, you should have had enough clearances done on you to afford at least ONE step without much headache.

Last month, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee launched a national legal campaign to get the government to resolve hundreds of cases. More than 40 lawyers filed lawsuits in federal courts, requesting that a judge step in and force U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to complete the stalled naturalization cases.

[rebeccajo 14]

I understand that the US government feels it needs to exercise caution regarding potential immigrants from known areas of the world where our 'enemies' reside.

But times change. Our enemies used to be the Germans and the Japanese.

In my mind, the singleing out of individuals from certain parts of the planet without just suspicion is tantamount to racial profiling.

[LaL 418]

i *get* the reasoning behind the delays, and i dont think anyone would argue that point, however watching some of the stories right here in the Mid East/N Africa forums, you have to think, the government does not know what the beep beep its doing.

and yeah Bec - its the singling out that is worrysome.

[almaty 19]

it is terrible and wrong...

[Satisfaction 1]

Imagine the hassle for people's whose name is Osama....

Sorry if I change the subject, but I come across people with really weird names. I think some names are so ridiculous that they should be illegal. What ya think?

[Kajikit 65]

People can have whatever name they want... discriminating against them on the basis of their name is just plain WRONG.