By David Elliott,
National
Iranian American Council (NIAC)
National Iranian American
Council has launched a
campaign against the bill
Congressman Gresham Barrett
(R-SC) has announced his intention to reintroduce legislation that would
prohibit "the admission of aliens from countries designated as State Sponsors of
Terrorism as well as Yemen to the United States." The Stop Terrorist Entry
Program (STEP) Act, first introduced in 2003, also would have required all
persons from these countries on student visas, temporary work visas, exchange
and tourist visas to leave the United States within 60 days, despite their legal
status in the country. Residents and nationals of Iran, Cuba, Sudan, Syria, and
Yemen would be affected.
The bill makes an exception
only in the cases of individuals who are seeking political or religious asylum,
or who have immediate emergency medical needs.
Congressman Barrett said his
bill came in response to the Fort Hood shooting and the Christmas-day attempt to
blow up an airplane over Detroit. "While President Obama may have declared an
end to the War on Terror, it is clear our enemies did not get the message. Twice
in the past two months, radical Islamic terrorists have attacked our nation and
the Administration has failed to adapt its national security and immigration
policies to counter the renewed resolve of those who seek to harm our
citizens."
The American Army major and
Nigerian alleged to have committed those attacks would not have been affected by
the STEP Act.
In response to Barrett's
announcement, the National Iranian American Council has launched a
campaign against the bill, saying it is "offensive to American principles,
harmful to US interests, and discriminates against Iranians and Iranian
Americans." The group also noted that no Iranian has ever committed a terrorist
act on American soil.
The 2003 version of the bill
is available
online. Congressman Barrett's office did not respond to requests for
comment. Aside from the inclusion of Yemen, and a new provision to prohibit the
transfer of detainees from Guantanamo Bay prison to the United States,
Congressman Barrett has not indicated any further differences between his new
bill and the legislation he introduced in 2003.
... Payvand News - 01/08/10 ... --
