Moscow Idaho: 120 agents arrest one Saudi for visa fraud

[MichaelP]

This came from a good source. I havn't tried to confirm with the FBI/INS

MichaelP

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Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2003 4:03 PM

Subject: Re: 120 FBI Agents Raid the University of Idaho (Who is next?)

From: Prof. Elizabeth Brandt from Univ. of Idaho:

Well, yesterday was an exciting day in my small town. The FBI flew in 120
agents, fully armed in riot gear, on two C-17 military aircraft (Ithink --
they were BIG planes) to Moscow Idaho (population 17,000 +/-) to arrest
one Saudi graduate student for visa fraud. The raid went down in
University of Idaho student housing at 4:30 a.m. in the morning,
terrorizing not only the suspect's family (he lived in student housing
with his wife and three elementary school age children) but also the
families of neighboring students who were awakened by the shouting and
lights and were required to remain in their homes until after 8:30 a.m.

At least 20 other students who had the misfortune to either know the
suspect or to have some minor immigration irregularities were also
subjected to substantial, surprise interrogations (4+ hours) although none
were detained or arrested yesterday. Now, however, a witch hunt for
additional unarmed suspects who supposedly helped the guy who was arrested
is on.

The INS and FBI are working together using Gestapo tactics to question the
students -- threatening their immigration status (and hence their
education) if they don't answer questions which are really aimed at the
criminal investigation. They have also threatened their partners and
spouses with perjury charges if they don't talk. I spent yesterday working
with our immigration clinic director and local criminal defense attorneys
to organize legal representation for the students who are being swept into
the hunt for co-conspirators. We have reached out to our entire area (40
-mile radius) to find enough attorneys. Now I'm working on getting
resources and support to them.

The Saudi government is providing financial support.

Reading about this stuff is one thing. Having it in your backyard is
another. The international students at the University of Idaho are
terrorized and scared.

Elizabeth Barker Brandt

Professor
University of Idaho College of Law