Originally Posted by ACLU

Ideological Exclusion

The United States government is denying visas to foreign nationals whose political views the government disfavors. Once used to bar suspected Communists from entering the country, the practice of "ideological exclusion" was resurrected by the USA Patriot Act. Ideological exclusion violates Americans' First Amendment right to hear constitutionally protected speech by denying foreign scholars, artists, politicians and others entry to the U.S.

Originally Posted by ACLU

The ACLU is challenging ideological exclusion in two cases concerning the exclusion of foreign scholars Tariq Ramadan and Adam Habib. The lawsuits charge that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice are violating Americans' First Amendment right to hear Ramadan and Habib’s speech. The suits are filed on behalf of academic, religious and professional organizations that have invited these scholars to speak in the U.S. The plaintiffs in the suit challenging Ramadan’s exclusion are the American Academy of Religion, the American Association of University Professors, and PEN American Center. The plaintiffs in the suit challenging Habib’s exclusion are the American Sociological Association, the American Association of University Professors, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, and the Boston Coalition for Palestinian Rights.

Ramadan is a Swiss professor and leading scholar of the Muslim world; he has published 20 books and more than 700 articles on subjects including Muslim identity, democracy and Islam, human rights and Islam, the practice of Islam in Europe and Islamic law. In 2004, Ramadan was set to teach at the University of Notre Dame until the government barred him from re-entering the United States by invoking the “ideological exclusion” provision, a law that allows the government to deny entry to those who “endorse or espouse terrorism.” When challenged in court, government attorneys failed to produce any evidence showing that Ramadan had endorsed terrorism, and during the course of litigation, they abandoned the allegation altogether. Ramadan's case, American Academy of Religion v. Chertoff, is being litigated before the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York.

Currently Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research, Innovation and Advancement at the University of Johannesburg , Adam Habib is a world-renowned researcher, scholar, and political commentator. He is an expert on issues of democracy, governance, race, and South African politics, public policy, and social movements. Professor Habib is also a vocal critic of various aspects of U.S. foreign policy, including the war in Iraq . Habib was a frequent traveler to the U.S. and earned a degree from the City University of New York. But when he arrived at John F. Kennedy Airport in October 2006, Customs and Border officials revoked Professor Habib's visa without explanation. As a result, Habib was unable to attend scheduled meetings with U.S.-based scholars and representatives from U.S. and international agencies, universities, and foundations.

In May 2007, Habib applied for a new visa that would allow him to travel to the U.S. to attend speaking engagements, including the American Sociological Association’s Annual Meeting. In September 2007, U.S. organizations that have invited Professor Habib to speak in the U.S. during the upcoming year filed a lawsuit seeking the immediate processing of Professor Habib’s visa application and a declaration that his exclusion without explanation violates their First Amendment right to hear his ideas. In November 2007, the State Department refused Habib a visa after months of inaction, claiming that he is barred because he has "engaged in terrorist activities," but the government failed to explain the basis for its accusation, let alone provide any evidence to prove it. The case, American Sociological Association v. Chertoff, is being litigated before the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts and demands that the government justify its ban on Habib or grant him a visa.

Originally Posted by The silenced majority

We should do our best to keep those who engage in political agitation on behalf of foreign powers out of this country.

Originally Posted by kamino

no. pleople have come to this country for many years for different reasons, a better economic life is one, hence some of the first colonists from england to find gold.