Hello everyone,

Please read my message (at bottom) and Michael Steinberg's (ACLU legal director) reply. Come to Detroit tomorrow if you can. A bus will be leaving from the Islamic Center on Plymouth Rd. at 7 am.

Phillis Engelbert

--- Michael J. Steinberg wrote:

Subject: Tomorrow's Hearing is Open to the Public
Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2002
 
I just spoke with Sandra Roberts, the Immigration Court Administrator, and Noel Saleh, Salma's attorney (and future ACLU attorney). Ms. Roberts is attributing the problem this morning to a misunderstanding.  She claims that when she gave a list of the witnesses provided to her by the attorneys to the guards at the gate, she explained to the guards that the hearing was to be open to the general public as well.  She told me that the people at the guardhouse were new and apparently thought that only those who were on the list and the media could be let in.  There was never an immigration court ruling stating that the media, but not the general public could enter.

Ms. Roberts said that she did not learn of the problem until after the hearing when Noel called.  She then called the guard station to make sure that they know to let in the public tomorrow.  I asked whether I could call her tomorrow if there was a problem and she stated that while she did not anticipate any problems that I could call if one did arise.  There is no reason for the guards to ask people's names or their organizational affiliation.

If there is a problem tomorrow, please call me right away and I will call Ms. Roberts.  My cell phone and work numbers are below.  I will try to be there as well.  The deportation hearing starts at 8 a.m. and may be the last hearing in the immigration court.  Thanks for your work and I hope to see you tomorrow.

Michael J. Steinberg, Legal Director
American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan
60 West Hancock St.
Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 578-6800, ext. 814
(cell) 313-570-8622
(fax) 313-578-6811

 -----Original Message-----
From: Phillis Engelbert
Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2002 12:10 PM
Subject: turned away from Rabih's "open" hearing

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to tell you about my very frustrating morning experience. Henry Herskovitz and I went to Detroit to attend Rabih Haddad's bond hearing (part II), only to be turned away at the guard shack. First, one of the guards who normally staffs the booth -- at entrance to the parking lot of the Brewery Park Building (home to lots of courtrooms and government offices) -- approached the car and asked what we were there for. A second guard followed shortly thereafter. We stated that we were there for the hearing of Rabih Haddad. The guards said that hearing was closed to the public. We said that Judge Nancy Edmunds had ruled it was to be open. They said they knew nothing about that. I asked about all the media vehicles in the lot. The guards said the hearing was open to the media, and that reporters inside, but that the hearing was closed to the public. One guard then asked what organization we were with and Henry answered "Ann Arbor Area Committee for Peace." The guard shook her head. Throughout this time, more officials came out of the shack until finally they numbered 6 or 7 and were in front of and on the side of the car. Some of their badges said "Secret Service" and the guy they kept looking at for guidance had an INS badge. Then one of the officials said there was a list, and we had to be on the list to get in. They asked our names and when we told them they said no, we weren't on the list. We asked about how the list was made and how people got on it and they wouldn't tell us. Henry asked if we could just go to the lobby of the building and inquire, but they said no -- we'd have to leave. Henry then asked the INS guy for his name and the guy kind of laughed and said "You want my name?" Henry said yes. The guy said "I don't have to tell you that." The tone of the conversation was escalating in an uncomfortable way and we decided it was time to leave. We subsequently made calls to the ACLU and John Conyers' office. They're looking into the situation.
 
In case you can't tell already from what I've written, the experience was frustrating, upsetting, frightening, and even Orwellian. I wanted to ask the bevvy of officials "what country are we in?" but Henry had the good sense to get us out of there. I'm still wondering about the answer to that question.

Phillis Engelbert