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Portland Refuses to Help FBI Question Middle Eastern Men
Aired November 22, 2001 - 07:06 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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, in the war against terrorism here in the U.S., Portland, Oregon is believed to be the first city to refuse to help the FBI question Middle Eastern men as part of the terror investigation.
CNN's James Hattori has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Police and city officials in Portland, Oregon are facing a public outcry since announcing they cannot fully comply with a request to question local residents on a list submitted by federal anti-terrorism investigators.
(on camera): What's been some of the reaction from your constituents?
MAYOR VERA KATZ, PORTLAND, OREGON: That we are a pro-terrorist organization.
HATTORI: The U.S. attorney wants local law enforcement agencies to question some 5,000 people nationwide, including 200 in the Portland area who entered the country after January 2000. Officials acknowledge many are Arab or Muslim.
(on camera): According to this memo from the U.S. attorney's office, the questioning could help the investigation into the September 11 attacks and help prevent future terrorism. It makes clear the people listed are not suspected of criminal activity and that's where the city of Portland has a problem.
ANDREW KIRKLAND, ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF: As far as our attorney, our city attorney is concerned, it puts us in conflict with the Oregon law.
HATTORI: An opinion by the city attorney says state law prevents investigators from asking about political, religious or social views or about activities unless the individuals are considered suspects. The U.S. attorney's memo includes questions about sympathizing with terrorists and visits to Afghanistan.
KATZ: When we looked at the questions, it became very apparent that some of the questions, just a few of them, we could not ask because we are restricted by state law. HATTORI: At Portland's Islamic center, where local Muslims gather to pray during Ramadan and break their daily fast, many are pleased with the city's stand and say the real problem is lax oversight by federal immigration officials, who don't keep track of foreign visitors.
ALI HOUDROGE, PORTLAND RESIDENT: If they want really to look for terrorists, they should do their homework by watching anything, any people or any individual that comes in here.
HATTORI: Portland's mayor says the city will cooperate to the extent it can legally.
KATZ: We're very concerned about people's civil rights. On the other hand, I'm very concerned about us getting to closure on this war on terrorism.
MICHAEL MOSMAN, U.S. ATTORNEY: If they don't want to do these interviews, that's fine with us. I disagree that it violates state law. I think it's a perfectly legal and appropriate law enforcement tool.
HATTORI: And the questioning will go on, the U.S. attorney's office says, with or without the city's help.
James Hattori, CNN, Portland, Oregon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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