ACLU Files Suit Over South African Scholar's Deportation

According to a press release from the American Civil Liberties Union, the civil rights group filed suit against the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday. The rights group charges that the Department illegally barred South African scholar Adam Habib from entering the United States due to his political views. The group claims that the Departments denial of entry to Professor Habib for these reasons is illegal and constitutes "censorship at the border."

A staff attorney for the ACLU's National Security Project, Melissa Goodman, had this to say about the suit: "Once again, the Bush administration is stifling debate by preventing U.S. audiences from engaging prominent scholars face-to-face. When the government excludes scholars from the U.S. - particularly scholars who frequently traveled to this country without any problems in the past, but who happen to be vocal critics of U.S. policies - it sends the cowardly message that our government is afraid of opposing voices. This kind of political litmus test is both unconstitutional and un-American."

Sarah Wunsch, staff attorney with the ACLU of Massachusetts, commented further that: "Immigration officials should not be in the business of blocking our borders to people with political views they dislike. Silencing critics and forbidding Americans the right to hear dissenting voices harms academic and political freedom in the United States."

Professor Habib is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research, Innovation and Advancement at the University of Johannesburg. The ACLU alleges that the government revoked Habib's visa last October without giving any explanation for their action. The group also claims that before this time Professor Habib traveled frequently to the United States for speaking engagements, and formerly lived in New York for years. Professor Habib is a Muslim, and the group claims that his anti-war views and disagreement with several of the United States anti-terrorism measures was the reason for the government's refusal to allow him in to the country.

Professor Habib flew to New York in advance of meetings with representatives from the World Bank, Centers for Disease Prevention and Control along with the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation among others. Upon arrival Habib was detained and reportedly questioned about his political views for seven hours before he was deported to South Africa. The US government reportedly revoked the visas of Habib's wife and children, also with no explanation.

The ACLU is bringing the suit on behalf of several organizations and academic institutions that sought to invite Professor Habib to participate in speaking engagements. These organizations include: the American Sociological Association (ASA), the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), and the Boston Coalition for Palestinian Rights (BCPR).

The suit names Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff as defendants. The suit seeks immediate processing and renewal of Professor Habib's visa.

Professor Habib had these comments about the situation: "I find it profoundly disturbing that the U.S. government continues to deny me the opportunity to participate in the kind of robust academic and political debate that is central to the American democratic system. Now more than ever, people from around the world recognize the consequences of American isolation within the global community. By letting in outsiders who represent ideological diversity, the U.S. can make good on its democratic ideals."

Source:
The American Civil Liberties Union