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Pakistani Immigrant Being Deported for Taking Pictures of
NY Reservoir Speaks from Jail
Pakistani Immigrant Married to U.S. Citizen Faces Deportation
Over 400 Detained in Southern California Immigration Sweep
Pakistani Immigrant Being Deported for Taking Pictures
of NY Reservoir Speaks from Jail
Pakistani immigrant Ansar Mahmood, lost his final judicial
appeal this week and is scheduled to be deported. He was first
picked up in October 2001 for taking photographs of an upstate
New York reservoir. No terror-related charges were ever filed
against him but investigators found him in minor violation
of immigration law. He joins us from prison where he has been
held for nearly three years.
A Pakistani immigrant who was detained almost three years
ago after taking pictures of an upstate New York reservoir
lost his fight to stay in United States on Tuesday.
Ansar Mahmood came to the U.S. in 2000 after receiving a
"diversity visa" in an immigration lottery. He found
work as a pizza deliveryman in Hudson, New York and sent about
$500 a month home to his family. Mahmood has nine siblings
in Pakistan who depended on his financial help.
In October 2001, he was arrested for taking photographs of
a reservoir in the Catskills Mountains. He has remained behind
bars ever since.
No terror-related charges were ever filed against Mahmood
but investigators found him in minor violation of immigration
law: He had signed an apartment lease, helped pay rent and
registered a car in his name for a young Pakistani couple
with expired visas. Mahmood also admitted helping the couple
get jobs at the Domino's pizza shop where he worked.
In January 2002, Mahmood pleaded guilty to harboring aliens
and was sentenced to time served and five years probation.
An immigration judge later ordered him returned to his native
Pakistan.
Mahmood became a cause for residents of upstate New York.
Democratic Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Charles Schumer
as well as 20 Congressmembers were among lawmakers who lent
their support.
But they were not able to prevent his deportation. He lost
his final judicial appeal on Tuesday. The government decision
said "After reviewing all pertinent correspondence, it
has been determined that the safety and security of the United
States far outweighs the amount of publicity that has been
generated in this case."
Mahmood now faces a certain deportation unless he is granted
him a last minute reprieve. He joins us on the phone from
jail.
- Ansar Mahmood, Pakistani immigrant scheduled to be deported.
He was detained almost three years ago when he was picked
up in October 2001 for taking photographs of an upstate
New York reservoir in the Catskills Mountains.
- Irum Shiekh, recently received her doctorate from the
University of California Berkeley's Ethic Studies department.
She wrote her dissertation on post 9/11 detainees and has
interviewed dozens of detainees and deportees including
Ansar Mahmood who she speaks with regularly. She was born
in a Pakistani town near where Mahmood's family still lives.
Pakistani Immigrant Married to U.S. Citizen Faces
Deportation
Pakistani immigrant Faisal Ulvie, his American wife Nadine
Young Ulvie and their lawyer Elizabeth Ouyang joins us in
our firehouse studio to discuss their case. A judge will decide
today whether Faisal must leave his family and return to Pakistan
to apply for a visa - a process which would take at least
10 years.
We bring you a case we have been following for nearly two
years. It is the story of Faisal Ulvie, a Pakistani immigrant
who came so close to being deported he was on the airport
tarmac when INS authorities received a cell phone call from
a federal judge ordering them to pull Faisal off the plane.
Ulvie traveled to the United States eight years ago and applied
for political asylum. But after he missed an asylum hearing,
he was issued deportation orders.
Ulvie remained in the country and married a US citizen, Nadine
Young. He helped raise Nadine"s two children. Three years
ago, they had a child of their own named Shaheen.
In November 2002, Faisal Ulvie was picked up by the INS.
Two months later the Ulvie family won a major victory. Federal
Immigration Judge Patricia Rohan gave Faisal permission to
file a marriage petition with the INS.
The marriage interview took place in April of this year.
Now the judge will decide whether Faisal must adjust his immigration
status or return to Pakistan and apply for a visa to come
back to his family.
- Faisal Ulvie, Pakistani man who traveled to the United
States six years ago for a martial arts competition. He
decided to stay in the country and apply for political asylum.
But after he missed an asylum hearing, he received deportation
orders. He remained in the country. His is married a US
citizen.
- Nadine Young Ulvie, wife of Faisal Ulvie, a detained
Pakistani immigrant.
- Elizabeth Ouyang , attorney for the Ulvie family.
Over 400 Detained in Southern California Immigration
Sweep
In the past month, immigration agents have arrested hundreds
of undocumented workers and immigrants in Southern California
in sweeps conducted well inside the US/Mexico border that
are causing widespread fear and charges of racial profiling
in local immigrant and Latino communities.
We turn now to Southern California. In the past month, immigration
agents have arrested hundreds of undocumented workers and
immigrants in Southern California in sweeps that are causing
widespread fear and charges of racial profiling in local immigrant
and Latino communities.
The sweeps began on June 1 and have been conducted well inside
the US/Mexico border. According to local papers, Border Patrol
officials have picked up people at grocery stores, bus stops,
and while walking down the street and driving in their cars.
As many as 500 people have been arrested since the operation
began. While there is significant fear in the immigrant and
Latino communities, not everyone is staying home. Up to 10,000
people marched in protests in Ontario, Pomona, Pasadena and
other cities.
- Nativo Lopez, executive director of the immigrant advocacy
organization, Hermandad
Mexicana Nacional based in Santa Ana. He is also the
head of the Mexican American Political Association.
For a copy of today’s program, call 1 (800) 881 2359.
Our website is www.democracynow.org.
Our email address is mail@democracynow.org.
Democracy Now! is produced by Mike Burke, Sharif Abdel Kouddous,
Ana Nogueira, Elizabeth Press, Jeremy Scahill and Parvez Sharma.
Mike Di Filippo is our engineer.
Thanks also to Uri Galed, Angela Alston, Orlando Richards,
Simba Russeau, Johnny Sender, Rich Kim, Joe Murgio, John Randolph,
Chris Zucker, Karen Ranucci, Denis Moynihan, Eric Rweyemamu,
Jenny Filipazzo and Isis Phillips.
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