By Ji Hyun Lim | AsianWeek Staff Writer
In another U.S. attempt to crack down on potential threats of terrorism, 10 Filipino aviation workers have been arrested and detained in Forth Worth, Texas, causing Filipino groups to rally for their release and demand the end of rampant racial profiling based on fear.
Fifteen airline mechanics from Fort Worth’s Meacham Airport were arrested and charged with violating immigration laws on June 28. These individuals were said to have ties with Abu Sayyaf, an extremist Muslim group with alleged connections to the kidnappings of tourists in the Southern Philippines.
According to Jon Melegrito, public relations director of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), Philippine President Gloria Arroyo complied with the U.S. insistence that the Philippines be named as a terrorist country. The U.S. contends that Abu Sayyaf is a terrorist organization complicit with Al Qaeda and is an active threat to homeland security.
Melegrito contends that Arroyo agreed to this status only so that the Philippines would be able to receive military aid from the United States. He points out that it leaves undocumented or illegal aliens from the Philippines particularly vulnerable to racial profiling.
“The INS is trying to track down on undocumented aliens and illegal [aliens],” Melegrito said. “They have automatically assumed that all Filipinos have ties to Al Qaeda terrorists.”
In the Meacham Airport incident, 10 Filipinos, two Mexicans and three Peruvians were arrested based on their immigration status. Gus Mercado, acting chair of the NaFFAA Committee on Racial Profiling, argues that ordinarily, immigration and visa violations would be addressed by swift deportation, without threats to prosecute as felony charges. In this case, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Jarvis, lead prosecutor for the case, is asking for a five to 25 year prison sentence for these individuals.
Mercado argues that the Filipinos arrested faced harsher charges than their Mexican or Peruvian counterparts. He points out that one individual was married to an American citizen, another to an approved permanent resident and another had worked for the U.S. government in the Philippines for 33 years.
Said Mercado: “These God-fearing, hardworking Filipinos and their families have already been through hell. They don’t belong in there with hardened criminals.”
NaFFAA argues that the 10 Filipinos were detained and questioned based on their Filipino heritage, not just because of their minor immigration violations. These individuals had applied for extensions on their visa and their applications were pending. But, because they had no proof of legal status, they appeared to be overstaying their visit, Melegrito said. Currently, the INS has detained them and is awaiting hearings.
NaFFAA fears that the trials will result not only in deportation but a felony record that may prevent the aviation workers from being able to return to the U.S. for at least 10 years. Because many undocumented workers are unaware of their civil rights, NaFFAA is concerned that many will inevitably acquiesce to U.S. authorities and forgo their rights.
“We have to consider that even illegal immigrants have rights,” Melegrito said. “We also believe that those who have been here for many years and have established stable employment deserve to be legalized so they can continue to be productive and striving.”
Filipino organizations are concerned that an estimated 300,000 undocumented Filipino immigrants may be susceptible to similar treatment. NaFFAA is insistent that the Philippine government take action to change its status as a terrorist nation, otherwise many immigrants will face similar predicaments to those of the 10 aviation workers.
“It’s racial profiling in the absurd sense,” Melegrito said. “To consider all Filipinos, despite religion or geographic location, to have links with Al Qaeda without evidence makes no sense.”
Currently, the NaFFAA has created an immigrant defense fund with the hopes of raising $18,000 to cover the legal fees of the 10 detainees. So far they have raised half the money and would like to appeal to the community to support these individuals.
Said Melegrito: “Our major concern is the violation of our civil rights and the way [the detainees] are being treated and not given due process. They have been incarcerated for nine months and held without any charges or evidence.”
To donate money to the NaFFAA Immigrant Legal Defense Fund, contact NaFFAA North Texas Legal Defense Fund, 3928 Medina Drive, Plano, Texas 75074
Reach Ji Hyun Lim at jlim@asianweek.com.
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