Task force to target suspected terrorists

Houston Chronicle

WASHINGTON — The United States will begin turning back would-be immigrants and will kick out foreigners already living here if they are deemed to be members or supporters of a terrorist group, Attorney General John Ashcroft announced Wednesday.

"America will not allow terrorists to use our hospitality as a weapon against us," Ashcroft said during a news briefing.

Ashcroft said a Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force will be responsible for rounding up and deporting immigrants bent on harming American citizens. He asked the U.S. State Department to designate 46 organizations whose members and sympathizers will be targeted.

Ashcroft said setting up the task force is the first step in implementing the recently passed anti-terrorism law, which gives the federal government unprecedented power to coordinate the efforts of different agencies, to detain foreigners longer without charges and to eavesdrop on suspected terrorists.

Before Congress passed the law, the Immigration and Naturalization Service sought to keep criminals out of the country. But lack of funding and personnel hampered those efforts, as did laws preventing immigration officials from sharing information with the FBI and other law enforcement authorities.

The new law allows agencies to share more information; it will be the task force’s job to figure out how to do that, Ashcroft said.

Ashcroft’s terrorist list is identical to the list released earlier by the U.S. Treasury Department, citing groups whose assets should be frozen. It includes groups linked to Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network. The Afghanistan-based organization is believed responsible for the Sept. 11 hijacking attacks that killed more than 5,000 people in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.

Also listed are other organizations that have committed or planned violent terrorist acts, or served as fronts for terrorist organizations, Ashcroft said.

The tightening of immigration policies came amid growing concern that it is too easy for terrorists to enter the country.

The State Department said Wednesday that 15 of the 19 hijackers in the Sept. 11 attacks applied for visas in Saudi Arabia. Their names were checked against lists of suspected terrorists. Six of the men were interviewed, but all were granted visas, officials said.

Ashcroft said the task force will help officials at the INS, the FBI, Customs Service and other federal agencies to share information and work together to weed out any foreigners suspected of being "terrorist aliens."

He said foreigners who are "representatives, members or supporters of terrorist organizations," as well as those suspected of engaging in terrorist activity or providing "material support" to terrorist activity, will be barred from the country.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens, Arlington school measures on Feb. 11 ballot

A bond in Lake Stevens and a levy in Arlington would be used to build new schools.

Lake Stevens Sewer District wastewater treatment plant. (Lake Stevens Sewer District)
Lake Stevens sewer district trial delayed until April

The dispute began in 2021 and centers around when the city can take over the district.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

A salmon carcass lays across willow branches in Edgecomb Creek on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tribes: State fish passage projects knock down barriers for local efforts

Court-ordered projects have sparked collaboration for salmon habitat restoration

The Everett Municipal Building on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett council approves $111 million construction of sewer project

The Port Gardner Storage Facility, in the works for more than a decade, will help prevent overflows of the city sewer system.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.