Excerpts from Department of Homeland Security Interview at Peace Bridge Border Crossing, Buffalo, New York

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 

CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION

RECORD OF SWORN STATEMENT

OFFICE: Peace Bridge, Buffalo, New York

FILE # A 97 914 835

STATEMENT BY: WAZIRUDDIN, Syed Sualeh

IN THE CASE OF: Your admission to the United States

AT: Peace Bridge, Buffalo, New York

DATE: December 23, 2004

BEFORE: Officer DAVIES

IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

I am an officer of the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, authorized by law to administer oaths and take testimony in connection with the enforcement of Immigration and Nationality laws of the United States.  I desire to take your sworn statement regarding: Your admission to the United States, today.

[snip]

Q. Are you a member of any groups, organizations or affiliations in the United States or Canada?

A. Yes.

Q. Of which groups are you a member?

A. American Automobile Association, Islamic Center of Pittsburgh.

Q. What is the level of your involvement with the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh?

A. I am the president of the outreach committee.

Q. What types of activities do you take part in or organize in that position?

A. Open houses, so non-Muslims can learn about Islam and see mosques.

Q. Do you take part in any protests or demonstrations in the United States?

A. I did in the past.

Q. What were you previously demonstrating or protesting against?

A. Cuts in transit services, war, special registration.

Q. Political literature was found in your vehicle that would lead an average person to conclude that you have strong political views against the United States, and/or its current administration, is that correct?

A. No, I disagree with the administration, but I don’t have strong views against either.

Q. Why are you transporting such materials across an international border?

A. That was not my intention, I have stuff in my car that people give to me, I don’t clean my car very often.  In hindsight, I should keep my car clean, and not transport political literature.

Q. When were you last involved in a demonstration or protest?

A. Summer of 2003.

Q. Where was it held?

A. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?

Q. Have you ever organized or lead a demonstration or protest of any kind?

A. I took part in organizing protests.

Q. In Pittsburgh?

A. Yes.

Q. What activities were included in the protests you organized or participated in?

A. Speeches, activities were all non-violent.

(pg. 9)

Q. Have you ever, or do you plan to take actions against the United States, or its government?

A. No.

Q. Do you have any intentions of participating in or organizing demonstrations or protests that are of a violent, or non-peaceful nature?

A. No.

Q. Do you have any knowledge of activities, that you may or may not participate in, that are against the United States government?

A. No.

[snip]

I have read (or have had read to me) the foregoing statement, consisting of 9 pages.  I state that the answers made therein by me are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief and that this statement is a full, true, and correct record of my interrogation on the date indicated by the above-named officer of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. I have initialed each page of this statement [and the correction(s) notes on page(s) ____.

Signature of alien

Subscribe and sworn to before me at Peace Bridge

Buffalo.

Signature of Immigration Officer

Date

12/23/04

Signature of Witness

(Sonia M …oxce)

Date

12/23/04

Fact Sheet – US Government refuses me admission to the US and detains, questions me

Summary:

* On Tuesday, November 16 I, Syed Sualeh (“Saleh”) Waziruddin, was refused admission into the United States at the US-Canada Border at Peace Bridge (between Fort Erie and Buffalo).

* the Free Trade Officer who administers the kind of visa I was renewing told me he had been watching me since my last trip to the border and that I could be seen as taking jobs away from Americans, asked me what would happen if I was put on a flight to Pakistan or Saudi Arabia (countries I am not a citizen of), and that James Earl Ray (Martin Lither King Jr.'s assassin) too had a Canadian passport and had said he was born in Canada (I was born in Canada and am a citizen only of Canada)

* The Free Trade Officer then had my car searched, and after peace vigil posters and fliers were found I was locked up in a cell without being told how long I would be detained for, I was searched, fingerprinted three times (twice on computer and once on paper), photographed twice, and questioned by two Immigration agents who asked me about my political beliefs and theological opinions

* I was renewing my TN (Treaty NAFTA) work visa as a Canadian citizen, which I have had and renewed annually over the last 6 years.  The official reason I was given was that I don’t own or rent property in Canada, which was not a problem for the last 6 times I applied.  I was told informally and implicitly that peace posters and Islamic Center open house materials found in my car where what “started all this”.  I was told the rule about owning or renting property was always there but this time it’s being strictly enforced.

* I have no alleged (or existing) ties to criminal or terror organizations, and none have been alleged by the US government at any time, no evidence has ever been cited.

Violation of rights:

* I asked for representation from my Consulate (Canadian Consulate in Buffalo which also services Pittsburgh) three times, as well as a chance to call a lawyer from my own cell phone, but these requests were effectively denied.  I was once told “you don’t understand, you’re in the border now” and that I would be locked up for “a while”.

* I was questioned about non-violent peace vigils (location, my role), about my views on US foreign policy, and I was asked for names of people helping the Muslim community with Immigration issues, as well as how I knew my labour movement contacts, and opinions on Islamic theology

* The questions I was asked were based on posters for peace vigils (non-violent), a flier from Black Voices for Peace, a flier against sweatshop conditions in Bangladesh, and materials from an Open House at the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh

* I was told I am on a list of people the US Government is “interested in”

Background/Biography:

* I am a Canadian citizen born to Indian and Pakistani parents and grew up in Saudi Arabia, I am a Muslim

* In 2002 I was involved in the successful year-long effort to free an Ethiopian immigrant arrested as a terrorist (www.freegetu.org, info packet at

http://www.freegetu.org/materials/facts/GetuInfoPak_v4-3.htm)

* I have been involved with the Islamic Council of Greater Pittsburgh’s Anti-Discrimination Committee, examples include a protest against special registration

(http://www.postgazette.com/localnews/20030222protestmainreg4p4.asp),

working with the ACLU on a Volunteer Lawyer System for people undergoing special registration

(http://www.postgazette.com/localnews/20030316special0316ap3.asp),

and helping with individual cases

(http://www.postgazette.com/pg/03168/193416.stm)

* I am also on the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh’s Outreach Committee and help arrange Open Houses (e.g.

http://www.pittnews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/09/14/4146645c99256)

* From 2002-2004 I was the Board President of the Thomas Merton Center, a 30-year peace and justice non-profit organization www.thomasmertoncenter.org,

http://www.pittnews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2002/09/24/3d8fcf0f6b2df?in_archive=1)

Contact Points:  I am currently staying in Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada: I can be telephoned at 412 654 6047, receive letters at 4025 Dorchester Road, Apt 146, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 7K8, e-mailed at salehw@yahoo.com.  I am still investigating the background of what was done and can be done.

Patriot Act Town Meeting Brings Together Residents of Edgewood and Neigboring Communities

(from Pittsburgh Indymedia http://pittsburgh.indymedia.org/news/2004/10/15934.php) 

Patriot Act Town Meeting Brings Together Residents of Edgewood and Neigboring Communities

by Mary Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004 at 8:32 AM
mary@indypgh.org

Residents of Edgewood as well as other east suburban communities and Regent Square gathered on Wednesday night to hear more about the USA-Patriot Act.

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Aproximately 40 people attended an informational meeting to hear about the USA Patriot Act and ask questions of panelists.

The program was organized by a group of Edgewood residents and a resident of neighboring Swissvale. Program organizers hoped to increase peoples' understanding of the Patriot Act and initiate discussion as to whether the community might want pass a Patriot-Act related resolution, as have Pittsburgh and nearby Wilkinsburg.

Panelists presenting information and answering questions were Omar Slater of the ACLU, Saleh Waziruddin of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, and Denise Edwards of Wilkinsburg Borough Council.

Mr. Slater presented details of the Act and warned that individuals could be labeled terrorists for belonging to activist groups; "sneak and peek" home searches can be done without warrants and without the knowledge of the resident; emails and visits to web sites can be monitored and by the FBI, and medical records and library usuage are also fair game. Additionally, it is illegal for the person or provider who who has been asked to provide information about you to inform you of this. In short, said Slater, there is no judical review and no probable cause.

Denise Edwards, Wilkinsburg Council member, said that the Patriot Act did not provide any assistance (such as funding for training) that would enable first responders (police, fire, ambulance) to do a better job of responding to real threats, terrorist or otherwise, and suggested that resources might be better directed. Wilkinsburg's passage of a resolution regarding the Patriot Act sent a message that activities such as surveillance must go through local elected officials. Ms. Edwards encouraged attendees to talk up Patriot-Act related issues and consider taking action.

Saleh Wazirudden discussed cases of individuals that had come up locally and nationally, including that of Getu, who was arrested at a Greyhound bus stopover in Pittsburgh on suspicion of being a terrorist. Mr. Wazirudden noted wryly that Getu was not a Muslim but was actually a Christian.

Not all audience members agreed that the Patriot Act was problematic, and one individual disputed some of the claims that were made by panelists.

Edgewood Borough Council member Heidi McDonald attended to find out more about both the Patriot Act and the feelings of her constituents. Edgewood Police Chief Wood had been invited to attend and participate in the question-and-answer portion of the meeting, but was not at the meeting.

This meeting will be followed up by a meeting to discuss a possible resolution.

add your comments

Denise Edwards, Saleh Wazirudden, and Omar Slater
by Mary Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004 at 8:32 AM
mary@indypgh.org

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A Familiar Madness (Letter to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Letters to the editor: 5/9/04

Sunday, May 09, 2004

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A familiar madness

U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan mischaracterizes City Council's anti-USA Patriot Act resolutions as disrupting law enforcement ("The Patriot Act Is Not What They Say," May 2 Forum). The resolutions don't stop any laws from being enforced but show that Pittsburghers oppose fishing expeditions against everyone's rights. She should appreciate the cooperation of Pittsburghers in getting their city to take a stand, not just the cooperation among law enforcement agencies.

Ms. Buchanan says opponents of the Patriot Act think the problem is with agents acting without courts. No, the problem is bigger. No matter who authorizes them, "sneak and peek" searches put us all under an invisible microscope used by paranoid minds.

Real law enforcement is not shakedowns motivated by discrimination and fear. Ms. Buchanan assumes the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act gives oversight but doesn't tell us its origins in the Church Committee's investigation of FBI abuses. Except instead of ending the abuses they were merely regulated.

In the 1990s FISA put activist Kurt Stand behind bars because a court let the FBI entrap him based only on his name appearing in an old East German file. Kurt's children are being supported by the Rosenberg Fund for Children, set up by Julius and Ethel's son. It's no coincidence that victims of 1950s paranoia are helping today's victims.

For all the technology and efficiency the government hypes, we also need to look at what's behind their use. It took decades for the Church and Pike committees to finally form after the American people exposed pervasive abuse.

The resolutions don't stop real law enforcement but show we are standing up to a familiar madness.

S. SALEH WAZIRUDDIN
ShadysideEditor's note: The writer is chair of the Anti-Discrimination Committee of the Islamic Council of Greater Pittsburgh