The operation involved an INS review of the licenses of more than 3,500 cab drivers in San Diego and Imperial counties, as well as of 12,000 employment verification forms from 187 security guard, limousine and shuttle companies. Most of the guards arrested are from Latin America; the INS said many of the drivers are from 25 countries suspected of having terrorist cells. Adele J. Fasano, director of the INS' San Diego district, said all those detained on immigration violations would be deported.

"In the aftermath of 9-11, our priority is to examine areas that pose the highest security threat and take appropriate action," said Fasano. "We are fully committed to using all of our investigative resources to ensure the safety of our community." There were no indications that any of the workers were linked to terrorism, Fasano acknowledged. Noting that in any case the government had apparently not checked the backgrounds of US citizens working near the stadium, Jordan Budd, legal director for the San Diego chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), accused the INS of "scapegoating the immigrant community while doing nothing to make the public safer."

Attorney John Mansfield filed a suit in federal court on Jan. 22, challenging an INS effort to deport security guard Anthony Ajayi without an immigration court hearing. Ajayi, a Nigerian- born British citizen, was arrested Jan. 10 in the Superbowl sweep; Mansfield says his client has a legal work permit and a pending application for permanent residency.

[Associated Press 1/24/03; San Diego-Union Tribune 1/23/03; New York Times 1/25/03]

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