INS Gets Low Turnout

Turnout was light in Los Angeles Friday as men from Iran and other mostly Muslim nations who missed earlier deadlines reached the end of a federal “grace period” allowing them to register with U.S. authorities without penalty.

About 75 men showed up at the Immigration and Naturalization Service headquarters in downtown Los Angeles, according to officials and activists monitoring the controversial program -- among the most far-reaching security measures enacted since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

“I’m just glad it’s over, and I’m out,” said Paul Kassabian, a 21-year-old citizen of Lebanon. Like others, he had to wait more than three hours -- a problem that officials ascribed to computer delays. “I couldn’t sleep last night thinking about it.”

The registration program, which was launched last year, requires that men from specified countries who entered the country on temporary visas before last October be photographed, fingerprinted and interrogated about their backgrounds while their names are checked for criminal or other violations. The information is plugged into federal databases as part of the government’s anti-terrorism effort.

To date, men from 18 nations have been required to register. Eligible men from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have until Feb. 21 to appear at INS offices. Men from five other nations -- Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan and Kuwait -- must register between Feb. 24 and March 28.

The number of registrants during the 10-day grace period peaked Thursday, when about 100 men showed up at the agency’s offices in Los Angeles, said Ronald J. Smith, INS acting district director. Many feared long lines if they waited until Friday.

So far, roughly one out of 10 immigrants showing up for registration nationwide are facing deportation proceedings because of immigration violations, federal officials said. Word of arrests and deportations have raised fears among Middle Eastern immigrants, students and visitors nationwide.

Authorities have warned, however, that failing to register will only make things worse -- making violators vulnerable not only to deportation, but possible criminal prosecution.

As of Tuesday, 1,362 men nationwide who had missed earlier deadlines to register in December and January had come forward during the grace period, said Jorge Martinez, a Justice Department spokesman.

More than 31,000 men older than 16 from all affected nations had registered at INS offices by Jan. 31, Martinez said. A companion program in place at U.S. airports, seaports and borders has resulted in the registration of more than 36,000 visitors since September.

The new registration efforts at INS offices and ports of entry have resulted in the apprehension of seven suspected terrorists, including one “known Al Qaeda member,” said Martinez, who declined to elaborate.