Close X
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
ADVT 
International

US probes reports of Sikh turbans being confiscated at Mexico border

Darpan News Desk IANS, 04 Aug, 2022 11:04 AM
  • US probes reports of Sikh turbans being confiscated at Mexico border

Washington, Aug 4 (IANS) US authorities have said investigations were underway into reports that turbans of Sikh asylum seekers were confiscated after they were detained at the country's border with Mexico, the media reported.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), nearly 50 Sikh migrants have had their turbans taken away, the BBC reported.

It said that the turban confiscations "blatantly violate federal law" and are inconsistent with the US Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) own non-discrimination policies.

In a letter sent to CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus on August 1, the ACLU called the seizures "ongoing, serious religious-freedom violations".

Meanwhile, Vanessa Pineda, a lawyer of the ACLU of Arizona, told the BBC that no proper explanation has been given about what, if any, security concerns a turban could raise.

"It's just not acceptable. They need to find another alternative and to stop this. It's dehumanising," she added.

In response, Magnus said the border agency expects its staff to "treat all migrants we encounter with respect", the BBC reported citing A Washington Post report.

"An internal investigation has been opened to address this matter," the CBP Commissioner was quoted as saying.

According to CBP statistics, nearly 13,000 Indian citizens, including many from Punjab, have been detained by Border Patrol officers at the US-Mexico border in the fiscal year that began in October 2021.

Of these, about three-quarters, or nearly 10,000, have been detained in the Border Patrol's Yuma sector, a 202 km expanse of desert and rocky mountains that stretches from California's Imperial Sand Dunes to the border between Arizona's Yuma and Pima counties.

MORE International ARTICLES

White House makes clear U.S. not sharing vaccines

White House makes clear U.S. not sharing vaccines
Press secretary Jen Psaki has been indicating for weeks that the Biden administration would not allow the export of doses manufactured in the U.S. any time soon.

White House makes clear U.S. not sharing vaccines

WHO: 'Premature,' 'unrealistic' COVID-19 will end soon

WHO: 'Premature,' 'unrealistic' COVID-19 will end soon
The world’s singular focus right now should be to keep transmission of COVID-19 as low as possible, said Dr. Michael Ryan, director of WHO's emergencies program.

WHO: 'Premature,' 'unrealistic' COVID-19 will end soon

New coronavirus variant in New York spurs caution, concern

New coronavirus variant in New York spurs caution, concern
One of the spike protein mutations is seen in the variants discovered early on in Brazil and South Africa, and, now, the new variant in New York.

New coronavirus variant in New York spurs caution, concern

White House on U.S. vaccine supply: America first

White House on U.S. vaccine supply: America first
That's despite the challenges faced by other countries, including Canada, in procuring vaccine doses from outside the United States.

White House on U.S. vaccine supply: America first

Attacks on older Asians stoke fear as Lunar New Year begins

Attacks on older Asians stoke fear as Lunar New Year begins
City officials also have visited Chinatowns in San Francisco and Oakland this week to address residents' safety concerns and condemn the violence.

Attacks on older Asians stoke fear as Lunar New Year begins

UN: 'Concerning news' vaccines may not work against variants

UN: 'Concerning news' vaccines may not work against variants
Tedros added that WHO expected to make a decision “in the next few days” on whether it would recommend an emergency use listing for the AstraZeneca vaccine.

UN: 'Concerning news' vaccines may not work against variants