Source: Independent Press Association-New York
http://www.indypressny.org/article.php3?ArticleID=2902
On September 8, 2006 the Independent Press Association-New York reported, "The post-September 11 world has made life worse for working immigrants. In the name of national security, the U.S. government has intensified its border patrol and aviation systems, scrutinizing immigrants coming into the country and deporting those who are considered a threat to the safety of Americans.
Advocates allege that the 9/11 attacks created a backlash against immigrants, claiming that racial discrimination nowadays is more palpable than ever before in American society. The number of detained and deported immigrants has increased dramatically over the last five years, and cases of hate crimes and profiling escalated across the country.
Alex Kabba, of African Abroad and Mohsin Zaheer, editor of Sada-e-Pakistan, ethnic newspapers in New York, shared their thoughts about their coverage of the most important issues that their own communities face since 9/11 and how they see the future... What is the most important story you have covered since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001?
KABBA: There have been two issues: the economy and xenophobia.
It has been hard economically because so much money has been spent on Iraq. This affects our community and the United States in general.
The money given to the people affected by 9/11 in New York was not enough. Instead of spending on health care, the U.S. government has allocated more for Iraq and is not doing anything for the people in the United States.
Secondly, a wave of xenophobia grips the United States. There has been a backlash against immigrants by people who can’t distinguish between terrorists and honest working immigrants.
The government enacted nationalistic laws to restrict residency. To get a job or a residency, immigrants have to prove that they have legal status. When they are documented they don’t have any problems, except for African Muslims or those whose names sound Muslim. They’re targeted at the airport and other public places because of racial profiling. Most of them have kept a low-profile."