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U.S. says registration so far a success


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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Justice Department said Tuesday that a program to register male nationals of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya and Sudan living in the United States has been successful. The deadline for their registration was Monday.

The Justice Department ordered men over 16 years old from 18 countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia to register with the INS as part of a program designed to keep potential terrorists out of the United States.

Officials said they could not provide figures on how many of the estimated 3,000 men from the five nations came forward to be interviewed, photographed and fingerprinted by immigration authorities.

Justice Department officials also could not say how many of those who reported to the government as required were detained, but they noted that any of the men who are in the United States illegally should not be surprised if the government takes them into custody.

Government sources said some individuals were detained for overstaying visas and after hearings may be subject to deportation.

One government source estimated the number of visitors from the five nations who were taken into custody since the registration program began in September to be "probably well under 200."

Non-citizen males in the United States from 13 other mostly Muslim and Middle Eastern nations are required to register by January 10. Justice officials estimated their number to be about 7,200.

Two other countries -- Saudi Arabia and Pakistan -- were added to the list Monday, and officials estimated about 14,000 males under 16 from those two nations will have to register.

The registration program of individuals from countries considered elevated national security risk is part of the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System. Congress has required the comprehensive program to be in place by 2005.

On September 11, 2002, federal agents began requiring temporary visitors from specified countries to be fingerprinted and photographed when they arrive at U.S. ports of entry and to provide information on their plans and on where they could be contacted while in the United States.

Certain individuals deemed to be national security risks from other countries are also required to register upon their arrival.

Justice officials Tuesday said the latest figures show that almost 40,000 individuals from 135 countries are required to register.

At least 179 of them had been detained or arrested, officials said. Attorney General John Ashcroft cited the same number last month in a visit to the Canadian border in upstate New York.


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