VTMBH Article: Body
The INS and FBI are raiding the homes of those whose country of origin, Pakistan, is Americas greatest ally in the war against terrorism. Within the last week, the agencies arrested 60 people in Queens and Brooklyn. They were all charged with violations relating to their immigration status. The Pakistani communities are terrified.
According to numerous accounts, thousands of families are fleeing Brooklyn because it seems that the agencies are focused on this borough. People are moving to other states, Canada and Pakistan. Many travel agents in Brooklyn tell of Pakistanis going back to Pakistan on one-way tickets. Abid Rafay, who runs a travel agency and is also in the insurance business, says that Pakistanis previously issued deportation papers are now leaving for Pakistan to avoid being raided.
Pakistanis are the main focus of the FBI and INS. The raids cause hardships that must be heard to be believed. A woman, residing in Long Island, heard from her husband four months after he was arrested in Pennsylvania. He has just now had a hearing.
A woman whose husband is in jail has three kids and no means of livelihood was recently assaulted. Many Pakistani business are bing hurt.
Officials in the Pakistan Embassy, who are responsible for detainees, say that Musharref simply is not talking about Overseas Pakistanis with Washington. Rep. Major Owens recently told the Pakistan Post that President Musharref made no effort to advocate against the raids.
Musharref is coming to address the UN in the second week of September. But how can he be pressured to speak for leniency for Pakistanis living illegally in the United States?
Officers from the Police Intelligence Units of the NYPD went to Pakistani businesses on Coney Island Avenue and asked for all kinds of information. They did not make any arrests but nor did they seem to question any of the neighboring Turkish, Mexican, or Russian businesses.
According to numerous accounts, thousands of families are fleeing Brooklyn because it seems that the agencies are focused on this borough. People are moving to other states, Canada and Pakistan. Many travel agents in Brooklyn tell of Pakistanis going back to Pakistan on one-way tickets. Abid Rafay, who runs a travel agency and is also in the insurance business, says that Pakistanis previously issued deportation papers are now leaving for Pakistan to avoid being raided.
Pakistanis are the main focus of the FBI and INS. The raids cause hardships that must be heard to be believed. A woman, residing in Long Island, heard from her husband four months after he was arrested in Pennsylvania. He has just now had a hearing.
A woman whose husband is in jail has three kids and no means of livelihood was recently assaulted. Many Pakistani business are bing hurt.
Officials in the Pakistan Embassy, who are responsible for detainees, say that Musharref simply is not talking about Overseas Pakistanis with Washington. Rep. Major Owens recently told the Pakistan Post that President Musharref made no effort to advocate against the raids.
Musharref is coming to address the UN in the second week of September. But how can he be pressured to speak for leniency for Pakistanis living illegally in the United States?
Officers from the Police Intelligence Units of the NYPD went to Pakistani businesses on Coney Island Avenue and asked for all kinds of information. They did not make any arrests but nor did they seem to question any of the neighboring Turkish, Mexican, or Russian businesses.