VTMBH Article: Body
Reem Khalil, a senior biochemistry major at City College, and her family remain in New Jerseys Hudson County jail, as CUNY students and faculty strategize on ways to speed their release. The Khalils were rounded up two months ago in the post-September 11th sweeps by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).
According to Frances Aboushi, a CCNY International Studies major and close friend of Reems, the Khalil family was arrested on Feb. 27 by the FBI. Aboushi told the Messenger that the FBI questioned Reems father about terrorism several weeks ago. FBI agents shackled the family members' hands and feet before transporting them in separate vehicles to FBI offices in Manhattans Federal Plaza for questioning.
Aboushi told the Messenger that Reems father was questioned by the FBI several weeks ago about terrorism. The father, who owns a Manhattan restaurant and has lived in the United States for nearly two decades, was released when the FBI found nothing linking him to the terrorist attacks.
The Khalils are from Syria. Because the Khalils are undocumented, the FBI turned them over to the INS, who are holding them in jail until deportation proceedings go through. The INS has split up the family and is holding them in separate facilities. Reem, her mother and teenage sister are in Hudson County; her father and one teenage brother are in Bergen County (New Jersey); and a second teenage brother is in Philadelphia. Two younger siblings who were born in the United States (and, thus, are citizens) are being cared for by a neighbor.
Aboushi, the CCNY student, contacted the CCNY Coalition Against the War about Reems plight. The Coalition organized a speak-out in NAC Rotunda on March 7. Following the speak-out, a group of about 25 students went to the office of CCNY President Gregory Williams to present the situation to him. Williams has since written a letter to the INS on Reems behalf.
Williams wasnt there, but the group was able to talk to Jean Wiles, deputy to the president. We demanded [that] President Williams defend one of his students by speaking out about her detainment, said Shaun Harkin, who was part of the delegation that spoke with Wiles. "Additionally, we demanded the response be immediate since Reem's fate is in the balance."
A faculty member who spoke to Williams reports that the president was upset that students had gathered in his office and demanded to see him. Several groups and individuals at CCNY are trying to do whatever they can to help secure Reem's release and publicize the case.
Aboushi, who has talked to the family's attorney, says it will be difficult to win any concessions for Reem in the current political climate. Aboushi feels that the Khalils should be released and Reem allowed to complete school. Reem was scheduled to graduate in June.
CCNYs Faculty Council passed a resolution asking for the college administration to act on the situation. A petition is also being circulated demanding her immediate release. Over 200 people signed the petition, says Harkin, and many now know about what's happened to her. This a good start, [but] now we have to build on it.
If there's no proof [of the father's guilt], there's no way to justify [the arrests], Pranita Tamma, a bio-med senior, told the Messenger when informed of Khalil's situation.
The FBI was being careful, but the FBI's personal feelings played into their treatment of the family, said Nidhi Babbar, a senior biology major. America is full of immigrants. When someone from another country does something wrong, you can't just link everyone of that descent to the crime.
According to Frances Aboushi, a CCNY International Studies major and close friend of Reems, the Khalil family was arrested on Feb. 27 by the FBI. Aboushi told the Messenger that the FBI questioned Reems father about terrorism several weeks ago. FBI agents shackled the family members' hands and feet before transporting them in separate vehicles to FBI offices in Manhattans Federal Plaza for questioning.
Aboushi told the Messenger that Reems father was questioned by the FBI several weeks ago about terrorism. The father, who owns a Manhattan restaurant and has lived in the United States for nearly two decades, was released when the FBI found nothing linking him to the terrorist attacks.
The Khalils are from Syria. Because the Khalils are undocumented, the FBI turned them over to the INS, who are holding them in jail until deportation proceedings go through. The INS has split up the family and is holding them in separate facilities. Reem, her mother and teenage sister are in Hudson County; her father and one teenage brother are in Bergen County (New Jersey); and a second teenage brother is in Philadelphia. Two younger siblings who were born in the United States (and, thus, are citizens) are being cared for by a neighbor.
Aboushi, the CCNY student, contacted the CCNY Coalition Against the War about Reems plight. The Coalition organized a speak-out in NAC Rotunda on March 7. Following the speak-out, a group of about 25 students went to the office of CCNY President Gregory Williams to present the situation to him. Williams has since written a letter to the INS on Reems behalf.
Williams wasnt there, but the group was able to talk to Jean Wiles, deputy to the president. We demanded [that] President Williams defend one of his students by speaking out about her detainment, said Shaun Harkin, who was part of the delegation that spoke with Wiles. "Additionally, we demanded the response be immediate since Reem's fate is in the balance."
A faculty member who spoke to Williams reports that the president was upset that students had gathered in his office and demanded to see him. Several groups and individuals at CCNY are trying to do whatever they can to help secure Reem's release and publicize the case.
Aboushi, who has talked to the family's attorney, says it will be difficult to win any concessions for Reem in the current political climate. Aboushi feels that the Khalils should be released and Reem allowed to complete school. Reem was scheduled to graduate in June.
CCNYs Faculty Council passed a resolution asking for the college administration to act on the situation. A petition is also being circulated demanding her immediate release. Over 200 people signed the petition, says Harkin, and many now know about what's happened to her. This a good start, [but] now we have to build on it.
If there's no proof [of the father's guilt], there's no way to justify [the arrests], Pranita Tamma, a bio-med senior, told the Messenger when informed of Khalil's situation.
The FBI was being careful, but the FBI's personal feelings played into their treatment of the family, said Nidhi Babbar, a senior biology major. America is full of immigrants. When someone from another country does something wrong, you can't just link everyone of that descent to the crime.