Racial Profiling of Middle Eastern Americans since the Attacks of September 11, 2001 - Term Paper Example

Racial Profiling of Middle Eastern Americans since the Attacks of September 11, 2001 Other (s) Submission Racial Profiling of Middle Eastern Americans since the Attacks of September 11, 2001 Description of the Project This project seeks to critically analyze the aspects of racial politics in the U.S with particular focus to the racial profiling of Middle Eastern Americans in the aftermath of the attacks of September 11, 2001. I have particularly chose this project due to my interest in human rights issues especially the prevailing cases of racial profiling of Middle Eastern Americans based on ethnic stereotypes and their perceived connection with terrorist activities following the events of the 9/11 attacks. The project involved carrying out a comprehensive review of a number of recently published peer reviewed journals on ethnic and racial politics in the United States with specific focus on to the racial profiling of Middle Eastern Americans after the attacks of September 11, 2001. Beyond library research, the project also involved making direct observation of the treatment of the social group by the local enforcers and recording any observations. Generally, racial profiling is the use of race, ethnicity or nationality as a key factor in the law enforcement policies to make arrests or investigate individuals for potential negative actions. Following the attacks of September 11, 2001 on world Trade Center and the pentagon, racial profiling against Americans of Middle Eastern origin has significantly increased. According to Ward (24), racial profiling of the Middle Eastern Americans after the 9/11 attacks have largely focused on the use of such profiling as a preemptive measure against terrorism with the identification of those with the so called “ of Middle Eastern appearance”(OMEA) as the primary target of law enforcers. The OMEA target group broadly includes all individuals whose physical characteristics resemble those of Middle Eastern, Arab and Muslim affiliations. This policy is theoretically premised on the belief that prospective terrorists representing threat against the United States are largely emanating from extremist Islamic terrorists and are therefore likely to fall into the target group. Results of the Research The results of the literature review reveals that Racial profiling targeting Middle Eastern Americans in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks has often taken a number of forms some of which include traffic stops on the basis of their race, use of race as a basis for detention and deportation, nationwide questioning of individuals of Middle Eastern descent and extra scrutiny at the airports and immigration departments. The September 11th, 2001 attacks resulted in the increased law enforcement checks and reduced freedoms for all Americans, particularly middle easterners (Murray 28). Current laws are currently insufficient to protect innocent minority groups from discrimination and racial profiling. Unregulated and prejudiced racial profiling cannot be justified because it does not completely end terrorism threats. They are perceived to be terrorists and criminals making their lives in American soil very humiliating and difficult. This is particularly attributed to the sweeping anti terror policies of the federal government that have almost exclusively focused on individuals of Arab and Middle Eastern descent. For example, many of the contemporary anti terror tactics that are normally used by federal law enforcement officials involve the use of common racial, ethnic or religious stereotypes in determining their law enforcement targets. Traffic stops of Middle Eastern Americans “Driving while Arab” According to many experts, arbitrary traffic stops is currently one of the widely used forms of racial profiling in the post September 11th United States. For example, there have been numerous accounts in which drivers have been subjected to traffic stops and searches by the law enforcers largely because they were Muslims, Arabs or people of Middle Eastern or South Asian descent and are therefore likely to engage in terrorist activities. For example, on October 4, 2001, an American motorist of Middle Eastern descent called Gwinnett Georgia was pulled over by police for making an illegal U-turn. The police officer ordered the motorist out at gun point, searched him and called him a bin laden supporter before he was eventually released. Similarly, Muslims and other Americans of Middle Eastern origin have also on numerous occasions been subjected to extra scrutiny at the airports by airport screeners. Generally, although the phenomenon of “driving while Arab” and “Flying while Arab” are recent phenomena which only came into existence after 9/11 attacks, there is no statistical data or evidence that suggests that this kind of racial profiling has yielded any significant number of arrests related to terrorist activities. Despite pre-existing racial prejudices and profiling in America, the terrorist attack galvanized all Americans against the Middle Eastern races because of fear. Racial differences between whites and African Americans have narrowed since the September 11 attacks. Muslims, Arabs, and Asians now bear the brunt of racism. Local, national, and international tensions around race, gender, borders, security, and law have resulted in horrific hate crimes and discrimination in the day-to-day activities. Although not part of the racial profiling, the media throughout the United States spread anti-Arab sentiments immediately after the attacks. Security agents carried out arbitrary arrests and detentions after the attacks. Majority of those arrested were of Middle Eastern descent. The government did not stop the spread of anti-Arab sentiments. Those illegally arrested were not given any retribution or apology. The media had portrayed them as terrorists and all other races blamed them for the attacks. The United States government introduced new security techniques to screen terrorists in airports. The methods focus heavily on immigrants from Muslim dominated countries. Many have to pass FBI background checks before getting visas Detention and Deportation Another particularly disturbing form of racial profiling that has been widely used against many Americans of Middle Eastern origin in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks is unwarranted detention and possible deportation solely on the basis of their races. According to many sources, there have been numerous documented instances in which the federal government has been blamed for using race as the primary basis for detaining of Muslims, Arabs and other individuals of Middle Eastern origins without following the due process of the law. On the other hand, the subsequent application of the anti-terrorism investigations have also been unfairly used as a vehicle to deport a disproportionate number of detainees of Middle Eastern descent even after finding them innocent of any terrorism related activity. For example, in the wake of the September 11 attacks, the US government detained thousands of Arabs, Muslims and Middle Eastern Americans on suspicion of terrorist activity. Although almost none of the individuals were ultimately found guilty of any terrorist Activity, many continue to be held without any formal charges for criminal activities or immigration violation. Those who are ultimately charged with immigration violations are often deported due to relatively trivial offenses such as failing to notify INS of their change of address or helping other immigrants find a house among others. It has also been widely reported that during such detentions, detainees of Middle Eastern origin are often subjected to rude and sometimes abusive interrogations by law enforcement officials and may also be thrown into jails with limited access to lawyers or families, where they may be kept behind bar long after their cases had been abandoned. Questioning of Middle Eastern Americans Following the September 11 events, the federal government immediately began nationwide campaigns to question thousands of Americans of Middle Eastern descent including non immigrants such as tourists, students and other persons with temporary visa. Although the government acknowledged that none of the people questioned were individually suspected of any wrongdoing, they argued that the questioning was only intended to uncover potential leads that may be useful in the fight against terrorism. The September 11th, 2001 attacks changed American people’s attitudes towards racism. Racism directed against Middle Eastern people has increased steadily in all aspects of American society. Radical terrorists carried out the 9/11 terrorist attacks. A minority group of Middle Eastern descent was identified as the perpetrators. Racial discrimination and hate crimes against them increased sharply. Some were killed in cold blood immediately after the 9/11 attacks. These crimes were not condemned and investigated as required by law. Currently, Middle Eastern Arabs living in America suffer mistreatment and stereotyping on a day-to-day basis. They are associated with terrorism. Hate crimes are regularly carried against them limiting their freedom of movement and worship. Immigration and security agencies racially profile them as possible criminals and terrorists. It has contributed to an increase of racism in the United States. Racial Profiling is being passed on to younger generations. This trend if not checked can increase extremism tendencies in the country. Arguments in Support of Racial Profiling of Middle Eastern Americans Despite the growing opposition to the contemporary racial profiling policies, there have been a number of arguments from some proponents who support such profiling as a tool to fight terrorism. Before the occurrence of September 11 attack in America there was very little level of racial profiling. The occurrence of the disaster made the authorities to rethink a strategy of ensuring proper social integration and profiling for the benefit of every American citizen. This aspect changed the whole of social interactions within the country and racial profiling facilitated isolation of antisocial behavior that begun to be taken very serious. Among such effects included any form of discrimination and threats associated to Arab, Muslim Americans were passed to be unlawful and such threats treated with highest level of seriousness. One of such arguments is that racial profiling has had a big impact on people’s way of living and association. This kind of profiling has made certain communities and races prone to deportation, unfair treatment and mistaken identity as a result of being associated to a certain race. Due to racial profiling there has been improved security intelligence as well as close monitoring of social interactions among this racial groups and help prevent more terror attack in the country. The racial profiling has enabled citizens to treat other races with respect and avoid stereotypes. This has enabled increased security intelligence as well as social integration that aim at ensuring people live harmoniously together. This kind of association has prevented racial violence among American citizens as well as non-citizens. Another argument of proponents is that racial profiling has become a beneficial tool on war against terror. It has acted as a useful source of information on terror and good source of intelligence and investigations. Far much as it has assisted in this was it has been identified to cause racial discrimination as the practice enables criminalization of a certain race in relation to terrorism. The result of such constrained relations has been associated with increased detention, secret trial and deportation. According to William(181), this kind of profiling has to a large extent targeted minority groups such as Arabs, Muslims and South Asians such profiling has been linked to same kind of myths about such race which has been argued to enhance selective application of immigration laws. However, in spite of all these arguments, it is worth noting that one cannot accurately state the benefits of racial profiling of Middle Eastern people by American security agents and its citizens. Racial profiles have succeeded in identifying many terrorist; however, it has yielded many false positives. Authorities frequently label terrorist attacks racially. Additionally, non-Arab terrorists may evade detection and commit crimes before detection. Citizens can get a sense of false security from security agencies engaging in racial profiling. Many white people have joined terrorist groups challenging the principles of racial profiling. Lastly, racial profiling is serious human rights abuse (Johnson 54). The constitution is against discrimination of people based on their race, ethnicity, religion, and gender. Anti-racial profiling laws in place should be enforced. The law should be clear on situations allowing arrests, searches, and detention of people based on racial profiles. Conclusion In conclusion, the project has revealed that the use of racial profiling as an anti-terrorism tool is largely been unsuccessful and is therefore a waste of law enforcement resources. This is particularly evidenced by the fact that despite the federal government supporting the use of such profiling as a preemptive measure against terrorism with the identification of those with the so called “of Middle Eastern appearance” (OMEA) as the primary target of law enforcement, there is no statistical data or evidence that suggests that racial profiling of Middle Eastern Americans has yielded any significant number of arrests related to terrorist activities. Works Cited Johnson, Devon. “Attitudes Toward the use ofRacial/Ethnic Profiling to Prevent Crime and Terrorism”. Public Administration Review. 2011. Print. Murray, Nancy. “Profiling in the Age of Total Information Awareness”. Race & Class. Journal of Race and Class. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.  Ward, James. “Race, Ethnicity, and Law Enforcement Profiling: Implications for Public Policy”. Public Administration Review 62.1(2012): 23-34. Print. William, Rose. “Crimes of Color: Risk, Profiling, and the Contemporary Racialization of Social Control.” International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society. 2.16(2012): 179–205. Read More