U.S. authorities said Thursday they had begun detaining Iraqi nationals in the country who might pose a security threat. “The Iraqis targeted … were identified using a range of intelligence criteria and all are in the country illegally,” said a statement from the new Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a division of the Department of Homeland Security. The BICE said its agents and agents of the FBI carried out the joint initiative as part of Operation Liberty Shield. The FBI was given the authority to conduct immigration detentions by Attorney General John Ashcroft in February. The BICE also said because the operation is ongoing, “we are unable to release further details at this time.” However, an FBI official earlier this week said that agents for some time have been “operating as we did after 9/11,” working with immigration officials to detain illegal immigrants as FBI agents conducted voluntary interviews with tens of thousands of Iraqi exiles in this country. The overwhelming majority of Iraqis in this country are profoundly anti-Saddam, and have been giving officials tips on possibly dangerous illegal immigrants. Full Story
About OODA Analyst
OODA is comprised of a unique team of international experts capable of providing advanced intelligence and analysis, strategy and planning support, risk and threat management, training, decision support, crisis response, and security services to global corporations and governments.