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Justice Confirms Detention of Iraqis in U.S.
Aired March 19, 2003 - 15:24 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to talk about the U.S. Justice Department now. The department has plans to move against dozens of Iraqi nationals who are living in the U.S. and who have been under federal scrutiny for some time now. Our Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena is live in Washington with more on that plan. Kelli, hello.
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Daryn. Well, CNN has confirmed that government officials say they will detain about three dozen Iraqi nationals in the United States for visa violations.
Now officials describe the individuals as being sympathetic to Saddam Hussein and they say that they could pose a threat to Americans. Sources say that the FBI, as you said, has had these Iraqis under surveillance for weeks before deciding to take action.
Interestingly, FBI agents now have the authority to enforce immigration law. That is a new power that was granted to them by the attorney general just a few weeks ago -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Kelli, does the department explain exactly what it believes a terrorist is from Iraq?
ARENA: Well, that was spelled pretty much out in black and white in an advisory sent out on Monday by the FBI to its state and local partners. It describes the Iraqi agents as a very serious threat, it says they're capable of assassinations, hijackings and bombings. It says that is real, but they also say that they are very ready to deal with that threat.
KAGAN: And just one more question for you. How does the threat from that potential threat, how does that compare with the threat from al Qaeda?
ARENA: Well, according to U.S. officials, it doesn't. Counterterrorism officials say that al Qaeda and related groups remain their No. 1 concern and they say that there's always the chance that al Qaeda operatives could use the situation in Iraq as an opportunity to strike. They say the threat from Iraqi agents is much smaller, but still real and of a concern.
KAGAN: Kelly Arena, thank you for the latest at the Justice Department. Appreciate that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired March 19, 2003 - 15:24 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to talk about the U.S. Justice Department now. The department has plans to move against dozens of Iraqi nationals who are living in the U.S. and who have been under federal scrutiny for some time now. Our Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena is live in Washington with more on that plan. Kelli, hello.
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Daryn. Well, CNN has confirmed that government officials say they will detain about three dozen Iraqi nationals in the United States for visa violations.
Now officials describe the individuals as being sympathetic to Saddam Hussein and they say that they could pose a threat to Americans. Sources say that the FBI, as you said, has had these Iraqis under surveillance for weeks before deciding to take action.
Interestingly, FBI agents now have the authority to enforce immigration law. That is a new power that was granted to them by the attorney general just a few weeks ago -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Kelli, does the department explain exactly what it believes a terrorist is from Iraq?
ARENA: Well, that was spelled pretty much out in black and white in an advisory sent out on Monday by the FBI to its state and local partners. It describes the Iraqi agents as a very serious threat, it says they're capable of assassinations, hijackings and bombings. It says that is real, but they also say that they are very ready to deal with that threat.
KAGAN: And just one more question for you. How does the threat from that potential threat, how does that compare with the threat from al Qaeda?
ARENA: Well, according to U.S. officials, it doesn't. Counterterrorism officials say that al Qaeda and related groups remain their No. 1 concern and they say that there's always the chance that al Qaeda operatives could use the situation in Iraq as an opportunity to strike. They say the threat from Iraqi agents is much smaller, but still real and of a concern.
KAGAN: Kelly Arena, thank you for the latest at the Justice Department. Appreciate that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
