Hundreds of Iranian-Americans and Muslims have been detained in Los Angeles after turning up to attempt to register with federal authorities under a new programme introduced to register men from what the US considers 'high risk' countries.
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An Islamic Center in California
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Between 500 and 1,000 teenagers and men have been detained so far in the state, according to Ramona Ripston of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California.
Many protesters said their husbands, sons and brothers were victims of government entrapment, that they were forced to register and were then arrested for not having their papers in order - in some cases because of government backlog.
Under the programme all male visitors at least 16 years old from five countries, including Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan and Syria, were ordered to register in person with the INS by Monday.
Temporary visitors from 15 other countries, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, are required to register by January 10, 2003.
The National Security Entry-Exist Registration System is the agency's first step towards monitoring all visitors since the September 11 terrorist attacks.
"The only time the INS detains someone, independent of their ancestry and their religion, is when they have violated immigration law," claimed Francisco Arcaute, spokesman for the Los Angeles INS district.
"This means they have outstayed their visas, or they are wanted by a law enforcement agency."
AP