The Bush administration removed hundreds of Pakistanis detained after September 11 from the United States and is sending them home at a 'hectic' pace that is expected to culminate by the end of April. Officials in the Justice Department and Pakistan Embassy said about 130 captives have already been deported, released on bond or have agreed to return to Pakistan voluntarily in recent weeks. The US authorities had detained thousands of people in a post-September 11 swoop on immigrants from Middle East and Pakistan, majority of whom on visa violations. They were, however interrogated on suspicion of possible involvement in terrorist activities.
130 suspects doesn't sound real "hectic," especially when some are out on bail or have made "voluntary" agreements. Saying they were held on visa violations makes it sound like the only problems were paperwork screwups. Remember they got Capone on his taxes because they couldn't hang the murders and robberies on him. |