Salaam,
Last Thursday, I participated in the Department of Homeland Security's Ramadan Virtual Muslim Community Roundtable. I was one of about 30 Muslim leaders to virtually meet with the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas. During the Roundtable, I brought up the importance of establishing a regular cadence of review of the federal government watchlists.
During the 2020 elections, President Biden made a campaign promise to instruct the Department of Homeland Security to undertake a review of “watchlist” and “no-fly list” processes to ensure that they do not have adverse impacts on individuals or groups based on national origin, race, religion, or ethnicity. Emgage Action is committed to seeing this through.
The watchlist aims to protect the U.S. from terrorist attacks by limiting certain individuals’ ability to enter or leave the country if they are determined to pose a credible security risk. However, the broad principle is easily exploited and is inherently vague. Among other issues: once placed on the list, it is nearly impossible to be removed, and there is no redress for being mistakenly put on the list. Such a situation impedes an individual’s rights to due process and civil liberties.
Biden’s campaign promise to regularly review the list was important. This would counteract the discriminatory policies that put it in place. It would also allow for enhanced dialogue with Muslim and Arab American communities. And, as I discussed in the Roundtable yesterday, a regular and rigorous review of the watchlist would address the issue of individuals who have been wrongfully added.
We remain committed to working with the Adminstration, the Department of Homeland Security, and Congress to address this important issue and we will keep you updated accordingly.
