Reply #71: Political Scientist denied entry into United States [View All]

Political Scientist denied entry into United States

27 October 2006 | Case number: us0610_pah

Issues:

Freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention; Freedom of
association and assembly; Right to travel


Facts of the Case

On October 21st, Professor Adam Habib, Executive Director of the
Democracy and Governance Research Programme of the Human Sciences
Research Council of South Africa, attempted to enter the United States
via JFK International Airport in order to meet with officers from
multiple organizations, including the Social Science Research Council,
Columbia University, the National Institutes of Health, the World Bank,
the Carnegie Foundation, and the Gates Foundation.

At that airport, Professor Habib was escorted to a holding room and
questioned by U.S. border agents on his views on terrorism. He was
detained for seven hours, his existing visa was revoked, and he was
subsequently deported to South Africa - an armed guard escorted him to
his return flight to Joahannesburg. No explanation of the reason that
his visa was revoked was given by the U.S. Government.

Professor Adam Habib obtained his Ph.D. in Political Science in the
United States, from the City University of New York. Since September
11th, 2001, he has visited the United States six times without incident.
Professor Habib has already accepted an invitation to speak at a 2007
meeting sponsored by the American Sociological Association, to be held
in New York City, but no longer has a valid visa to enter the United States. ~snip~

http://listserv.aaas.org/pipermail/aaashran/2006-November/000006.html