US Homeland Defence needs to go back to skool

[Vulcan]

Can't book a flight for 7 weeks?

Haven't heard of intardnet bookings have we?

US embassy mum on why NZer detained for seven weeks
07 July 2005  
By COLIN MARSHALL

The United States embassy was last night saying little about why a Motueka man had been detained for seven weeks in the United States for allegedly working illegally on navy planes.


James Kirkwood, a 26-year-old aircraft engineer, was arrested by the US Immigration Enforcement Agency on May 17, along with eight British colleagues from the British company they were working for, Merchant Aviation.

The company had failed to secure the correct working visas for the team but Mr Kirkwood's mother Erin Clark has said the British workers were sent home after a week of detention, but her son was still waiting.

Although he is to be sent home on Friday, the United States embassy in Wellington yesterday had little to say as to why it had taken more than seven weeks for the US to do anything.

Green Party foreign affairs spokesman Keith Locke yesterday labelled Mr Kirkwood's detention "heavy-handed" on the part of the US.

Embassy spokeswoman Janine Burns said the embassy was watching the situation.

"We've been in touch with the Department of Homeland Security (in the US) and they are regularly updating us on the status of the case.

"They are making arrangements for Mr Kirkwood's return to New Zealand and we expect this to be resolved shortly."

When pressed as to why it had taken seven weeks to send Mr Kirkwood home, she would only repeat that "we expect it to be resolved shortly".

She said the time difference with the US made finding out more on Mr Kirkwood's situation impossible yesterday.

Mr Locke told NZPA for it to take seven weeks to deport Mr Kirkwood was unacceptable and a breach of his human rights.

It appeared Mr Kirkwood was a "genuine New Zealander" who had been lined up for a job.

"It was just the employer that mucked up his visa and he's been sitting there for seven weeks. It's a very heavy-handed approach."

Mr Locke said if the US had proper systems, Mr Kirkwood should not have been detained more than a day.

"He's clearly not a threat.

"It's just part of this stupid over-reaction on a supposed security basis the Americans are into right now under George Bush.

"Instead of treating people with dignity they feel they've got licence to hold people like James for long periods of time and stick them in atrocious conditions."

He said it appeared human rights in the US did not matter and the New Zealand Government should protest at Mr Kirkwood's treatment.

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) spokeswoman Emma Reilly told NZPA under the US security laws, Mr Kirkwood could be held for up to three months while the deportation process was finalised.

"Once he is en route that is the point they will tell the New Zealand embassy in Washington his flight arrangements - that is their standard procedure.

"Basically it is the norm, you can be held for up to three months before you are deported.

"He's got to seven weeks - he could have got to 14."

Ms Reilly said the New Zealand embassy in Washington had been in frequent contact with Mr Kirkwood, his lawyer and the US authorities.

The ministry had no concerns with Mr Kirkwood's treatment and believed he was being treated no differently than anybody else in the same situation would be.

Mr Kirkwood's colleagues were deported earlier because they were able to get a direct flight to Britain from Atlanta where they were being held.

She said the process took longer for Mr Kirkwood because the American authorities had to find an available flight.

The security laws allowing Mr Kirkwood to be detained were imposed after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York and the Pentagon.
 

[SOB]

Is this some sort of suprise to you?

[Ack-Ack]

IMO...The Homeland Security Dept. is a joke and a waste of our taxes.  It's just a placebo to make us feel more secure.  What I find really funny is that they even have patrol cars.  If you live in the San Diego area, they're a common site around downtown and the Barrio Logan area.  



ack-ack

[Vulcan]

Good point, wonder how much it cost the taxpayer to keep him locked up for 7 weeks - and get replacement engineers - I hear they're hard to come by.

Whats wrong with sorting the problem out (ie correct visa's) or is throwing people in a lockup their standard reaction?

[SOB]

"Whats wrong with sorting the problem out (ie correct visa's) or is throwing people in a lockup their standard reaction?"

That would take both brain power and reason.  Unfortunately, both are in short supply.