Saturday, July 22

Last Of The 9/11 Suspects Released From Jail
















Benemar Benatta spent almost five years locked up. He was one of 1,200 people picked up after 9/11. Even though he appears to have been cleared of any terrorists ties in November 2001, he remained in custody until this week. The charges against him? Carrying false identification. That's right, he was kept in jail on the taxpayers dime for almost five years. Not to mention the legal costs of this case.

(AP)The magistrate wrote in a 2003 decision that Benatta had been "undeniably deprived of his liberty," and "held in custody under harsh conditions which can be said to be oppressive."

Despite the ruling, immigration officials kept him in custody in Buffalo while he appealed a deportation order and renewed his quest for asylum based on a claim that, as a military deserter, he would tortured or killed if he returned to Algeria.

A United Nations human rights group that studied the case noted that most asylum seekers are released pending the outcome of their cases.
Even with the government walking all over people's rights, it's amazing we haven't been hit again!