The killing of Nabra Hassanen

The American Human Rights Council (AHRC-USA) is deeply troubled by reports of heightened Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement in the Iraqi American community. ICE has arrested a number of Iraqis, Muslims and Christians, and is set on deporting them to Iraq.

AHRC understands that ICE is an enforcing American federal law and that many of the arrested have been convicted of aggravated felonies that make them deportable. However, AHRC is concerned about the adverse impact of this spike in enforcement on the human rights of the deportees and the human rights of their families- especially the spouses and the children. Iraq, while some progress has been made, remains a very dangerous country. AHRC is worried about the safety and the human rights of the deportees.

AHRC-USA urges the government to take the Iraq country conditions into account in making enforcement decisions. A non-citizen is deportable if they are convicted of an "aggravated felony." Many of the crimes federal law considers "aggravated felonies" are not serious crimes that endanger public safety. We urge the government to revisit its immigration priorities with a focus on public safety and the human rights of all the stakeholders.

"We are deeply troubled by the fear and anxiety that the spike in immigration enforcement is causing in the Iraqi community," said Imad Hamad, AHRC Executive Director. "Regardless of citizenship status, we are dealing with human beings who have human rights and we urge the government to reconsider its enforcement policy," continued Hamad.