ADC Press Release/Action Alert:

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) has confirmed through federal government sources that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has initiated, or soon will initiate, specific enforcement actions in major metropolitan areas prior to the November 2nd Presidential election. This new ICE initiative is supposedly separate from the recent ADC alert about the voluntary interviews being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI.) However, ADC has confirmed that ICE's enforcement action is in fact, being carried out in conjunction with the FBI's latest initiative.

The ICE initiative consists of a stepped up effort to arrest a number of non-citizens whose immigration paperwork is "out of status." While ADC encourages and supports all measures to enhance our nation's security, ADC is troubled by the idea that immigration sweeps are being portrayed as successes in the war on terror. To date it is unclear whether the ICE initiative will be selectively carried out against Arabs and Muslims. ADC reiterates its strong objection to any selective enforcement initiative that is based solely on race, national origin, or religion.

Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE have failed to reach out to community leaders to communicate this matter or to address our concerns. This initiative damages efforts made at cooperating with the Arab-American community. ADC has actively worked to build bridges with multiple levels of law enforcement and the community through its successful national Law Enforcement Outreach Program (LEOP) and the ADC Michigan office's outreach program BRIDGES.

Furthermore, ADC, which is nonpartisan, hopes this ICE initiative will not be perceived by the community as intimidation to US citizens who may be relatives of those subjected to the enforcement action and may inhibit these citizens from voting, especially those newly registered to vote.

ADC suggests you contact the White House and the Department of Homeland Security to relay your concern and opposition to this new ICE initiative.

You may write to them online, via ADC website:
http://capwiz.com/adc/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=6480531

If you prefer to call, contact information is listed below.

ICE National Headquarters
Tel: 202-514-2648
Fax: 202-307-1918

White House
Tel: 202-456-1111
Fax: 202-456-2461
Email: president@whitehouse.gov

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